Cross River State - Lawmakers praise Imoke on infrastructure development

[CrossRiverState]

     

The lawmakers made their feelings known Wednesday when they undertook an inspection of construction work at the 2000 seat all-purpose built Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC).

Led by its speaker, Hon Larry Odey, the legislators were received by the Special Adviser Governor's Office, Mr. Nzan Ogbe, while the Project Manager, Mr. Reginald Longdon conducted them round the project site.

Ogbe disclosed that the project which is located within the new development area close to Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, is expected to be a world class edifice, the best of its kind within the West African sub zone.

According to him, the project was conceptualized to support Tinapa by generating traffic all year round. The new development area is also expected to accommodate a referral hospital, 200 bed hotel, an 18-hole golf course, a Golf Estate and a Festival Village. He explained that apart from the hospital which will be built by the state with International Finance Corporation (IFC) as financial/transaction structure adviser, the other projects will be constructed through a Public Private Sector Partnership (PPP) with government providing the infrastructure.

The Special Adviser stated that the 2000-seat Centre, which will be equipped with state of the art amenities and multi-functional spaces, is expected to significantly increase and sustain the number of visitors coming into the state and therefore impact positively on its micro/macro economy.

"This is in line with the government's drive to create a new service driven economy that will be a model in Nigeria and West Africa," he said.

He further remarked that the development of the new Calabar Golf Course which will be completed in April 2014, is in furtherance of efforts to strategically position the state as a preferred tourism and conferencing destination in Nigeria and the sub region.

The Project Manager, Mr. Reginald London disclosed that Convention Centre will be completed in August 2014.

Responding, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Larry Odey, who said they were impressed with the project described the inspection as one way of stimulating a synergy between the executive and legislative arms of government to ensure good governance.

Odey promised that there would be a follow up on other projects to ensure quality control, adding that it will strengthen governance in the state because all projects are included in the budget.

The Speaker assured the executive of more cooperation because all projects in the state are focused on raising its status not only in Nigeria but the sub West African region.

Via: Cross River State Government - Official Press Release