Fashola said this on Monday while inspecting the newly
constructed 1.5km, two-lane bridge on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon
in Ekot-Mfum, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that construction
of the bridge began on April 28, 2017 and was completed in March 2021 at the
cost of $35.9 billion.Funding of the
project was provided by both countries.
According to the minister, the construction of the bridge
will also strengthen relations between both countries and improve cross-border
security.”This is the first shoot of the harvest of completed projects proposed
as the administration enters the second phase of the second term on its way
out,” he said.
Fashola said that the administration’s plan to renew and
expand old infrastructure would take the two countries to the future for many
more decades and strengthen the relationship between them.
“We have had a strong relationship with the Republic of
Cameroon in terms of trade and business.
“If you go to Aba, Enugu, and Abakaliki for example, I can
tell you that they are on the route that
facilitates trade in agro-produce, merchandise, and manufactured goods from Aba
in Abia state.
“You can only expect that this will improve joint border
patrol, ensure security, more efficiency
which you see from the first buildings formed out of the integration of ECOWAS
and sister nations of what the continent should look like.
“Nigeria is now a signatory to the Africa Continental Free
Trade Agreement. So this is infrastructure
that positions both nations to take the benefit of the trade that agreement
holds.
“It is really exciting. Looking into the future you can only
see more business, more trade, and employment meant for people,” Fashola said.
On revenue generation, the minister said that the bridge was
a social asset and that the happiness and prosperity of Nigerians was enough
payment.
“These are social assets and we must understand that, the
recurpment is the happiness and the prosperity of the people of Nigeria.
“The prosperity of the people is the reason why President
Muhammadu Buhari is pushing this infrastructure renewal.
“For as long as our people are happy, they can travel
easily, they can reduce their journey, safe time on the road because if you
save time you save money and am sure the President is delighted,” he added.
Mr Henry Etuk, Chairman, Etung Local Government Area said
the people are pleased with what the Federal Government had done.
Etuk reiterated that the new bridge would bring about better
trade among the people of Nigeria and Cameroon.He said that the ease of
movement and trade would go a long way to improve relationship and foster
development in the area.
A community leader, Mr Victor Njor, commended the government for building the bridge, saying that it would strengthen efforts at ensuring better security because of the joint border patrol. (NAN)