The Cross River Border Communities Development Commission (Bordercom), says it has awarded contracts worth N452 million for development projects in some border communities in the state.
The Director-General of the commission, Mr Leo Aggrey, said recently in Calabar that the contractors were already being mobilised for the execution of the projects.
Aggrey said that the commission had so far spent N1.7 billion on various projects in the communities since 2009. “So on the whole, the government has spent N1.7 billion and we are in the process of awarding contracts for the execution of projects valued at about N452 million; we are processing payments now, ‘’ he said.
According to him, the projects include health centres, primary and secondary schools, staff quarters, police posts, and boreholes, adding that some of the projects had earlier been completed and inaugurated.
Aggrey said a police post, barracks and borehole had also been built and furnished at Igwo while a health centre, staff quarters, borehole and medical equipment had been provided at Ukpirinye.
The director-general said that 74 projects were completed and inaugurated in various border communities in the north and central senatorial districts of the state in the last six months.
He said that the projects in the south zone had yet to be inaugurated due to the heavy rains that prevented the inaugurating team from visiting the sites.
Aggrey further said that sites had been acquired in various communities in the Cross River south senatorial zone for some projects.
The area include Kakwe, Bebi, Busi 11 in Obanliku; Ekureku and Bazohure in Abi; Danare 1 and 11 in Boki local government areas.
He, however, said that inter and intra boundary crises were major challenges facing the commission, adding that several projects were vandalised before they were completed.
He said that Gov. Liyel Imoke was very passionate about the development of the communities but added that this would only be possible under a peaceful atmosphere.
He said that the communities had shown appreciation to the government for the projects, adding that most of them were now using amenities for the first time in their history.
Cross River has 16 boundary communities with Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Benue and the Republic of Cameroun.
