From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Akamkpa
The United Cement Company of Nigeria (UniCem) says its on-going 20-kilometre evacuation road construction project in Cross River will cost more than N9 billion upon completion in 2016.The Managing Director of UniCem, Mr Olivier Lenoir, disclosed this during the media tour of Line 2 and evacuation road projects in the state
The line 2 plant is located in Mfamosing in Akamkpa while the evacuation road project cuts across communities in Odukpani and Akamkpa Local Government Areas of the state.
Lenoir said that the project which began in Sept. 2010 was earlier estimated to cost N5 billion.
He said that variation in the cost of the project was due to the construction of two bridges, 88 culverts, use of concrete and sand filling of swamps to give the 7.3 metre-wide road construction a solid base.
Lenoir who said that the road is expected to be completed in Sept. 2016, also disclosed that it was conceived for a life-span of no less than100 years.
According to him the road will serve as a valuable bye-pass between two important Federal Roads and access to communities that had never witnessed such infrastructural development
He said that apart from adding economic value to the surrounding land the road was expected to provide access as well as easy communication between communities along its axis
Lenoir said the multinational cement manufacturer also constructed the road to ensure road safety for cement evacuation activity and provide access to farmers and traders to markets
He said the road would provide employment for the locals during the construction phase.
According to Lenoir the road construction will offer an excellent opportunity to test and perfect the use of cement in Road Pavement as a more sustainable alternative to asphalt.
He said the Line 2 project was undertaken by the shareholders and Board of UniCem to support the Federal Government’s incentives for cement industries by investing in Nigerian economy.
Lenoir said UniCem’s was constructing an additional 2.5 metric ton plant (Line 11 Project) to invest in the economy and increase the company’s capacity to 5.0 metric ton per year.
He said the company’s second line to be commissioned in September 2016 was expected to create wealth, contribute to economic development and Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in cement production.
The ground breaking of the Line II project was done by Vice President, Namadi Sambo in Sept. 2014.
“We have made progress as a company on these two projects that have very many economic and social benefits to Nigeria and particularly to Cross River our operational base. As you see from the presentations, we have remained committed to these projects and will do our best to deliver on the expected delivery dates. UniCem would not relent in fulfilling its corporate social responsibility to its community and beyond,” Lenoir said.
Mr Mark Aibangbee, the Road Project Manager, said that the project has employed no fewer than 380 persons at various stages of the construction.
Aibangbee said that the road project when completed would open access to communities which never had road construction before the evacuation of the project.
“When completed, this road would open access to market for agricultural product from the communities, increases in the value of land around the communities it traverses and others.
“To ensure timely completion of this road, we decided to employ the services of three companies which include, Piccolo Brunelli Engineering, Zenith Construction and Lubrik Construction limited,” he said.
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