The State Commissioner for Works, Ankpo Ekpo on Wednesday revealed that the government of the former governor of the state, Senator Benedict Ayade left the state coffers dry as it left the government house.
The Commissioner stated that he was upon resumption of office, the current governor of the state, Bassey Out inherited an empty treasury that left most official os the government including himself (Commissioner for Works) confused on how to start.
Decrying the state of road infrastructure in the state, Mr. Edet said that his ministry had since commenced works on rehabilitation of roads across Calabar, the state capital.
The Commissioner, however, assured the public that the current government was determined to ensure that all parts of the state was taken adequate care of in the area of infrastructure development and other benefits that should accrue to the people.
He said:
“The level of infrastructure decay we met on the ground was such that I was confused as a commissioner when I went around Calabar upon resumption.
“I am happy to announce that we have done a lot in rehabilitating most of these roads in spite of the Sen. Bassey Otu-led administration meeting empty treasury.
“Just like we had in Calabar municipality and Calabar south, so were there several unmotorable roads in Cross River north and Cross River central.
“These projects are being carried out with taxpayers’ money and so, we will work on them and also not abandon any of those we are working on now.
“You will see the serious work on the parliamentary extension road. We are using this road to be our super highway since the one embarked upon by the immediate past administration didn’t see the light of the day.