By John Ighodaro
CALABAR — Cross River State Government has signed the Public Private Partnership, PPP,  Bill into Law as part of efforts to see to the growth of the private sector in the state.

The PPP law 2010, according to Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, will drive public private partnership as well as create an enabling environment for transparent process.

“It will also offer opportunities for participation and clear regulatory framework for the partnership to develop,” he added.

The Law seeks to create the legal framework to facilitate and regulate the financing, development, and maintenance by the private sector of otherwise public projects and services.

The Governor disclosed that Cross River was the first state in the country to embark on the process by establishing a legal frame work to guide it, promising that the state  will continue to create an enabling environment with a clear understanding of working together with the private sector to develop its economy. He expressed his appreciation to the Federal Government for its support in working out the policies of the law.

Imoke  also lauded other individuals who played significant roles to ensure the realisation of the law as well as the support of the state House of Assembly, which according to him, was not unusual, adding that with the signing of the bill into law, all parties involved will understand its content and the part they are to play.

He declared the immediate commencement of the law as it provides the instrument needed for a legal frame work and he called on all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAS) to study it in detail as well as set up PPP units in their offices because all PPP projects will be executed in consent with the law which is very critical, stating that more PPP contracts will be seen in the state in the 2011 financial year.

“This will go a long way to relieve the pressure on our Capital Budget and addressing the resource gap that has always been a burden to us.  We are on the verge of a fast tracking of our growth and development in Cross River State” Imoke said.