By Francis Igata

ENUGU – Federal Government yesterday, commissioned the 240km Enugu-Abakakiliki-Ogoja-Ikom-Mfum Trans-Africa Highwaywhich cost N31 billion.

Performing the commissioning at Kilometre 6, Enugu-Abakiliki expressway, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Work, Mr. Mike Onolememen, revealed that the road project was consistent with the efforts of his transformation agenda towards free flow of persons and goods in the country.

His words: “This all important project that links Nigeria to Cameroon starting from Enugu-Abakiliki-Ojoja-Ikom-Mfum is part of the Trans-Africa Highway project.

‘’As part of the confidence building mechanism between Nigeria and Cameroon, after the Bakassi Peninsula saga, the World Bank and Africa Development Bank collaborated with the Government of Nigeria, Cameroon to ensure that part of the Trans-Africa Highway between Nigeria and Cameroon was rehabilitated.

“The road had been in a very bad shape, so we got a soft IDA facility for its funding from the banks I mentioned. The road was executed at a total cost of N31 billion. It was flag-off in 2012.

“Social infrastructures were built as part of the main road work contract. Under this arrangement, 36 boreholes/hand pumps,3 agricultural produce drying platforms,four Cassava processing mills, one rice processing mill,5 palm oil processing mills were built for communities along the main road corridors.

“Other are eight new classroom blocks and renovation of existing primary schools, two town halls, eight access road and culverts linking communities and one dispensary.”