N20 billion has been released by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the completion of the road leading from Cross River State to Delta State.

The contract for the construction of the 657-km road was awarded since 2006, by the then Obasanjo administration, but was never completed.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio instructed the contractors to return to site for the speedy completion of the road, when he met with them at a meeting.

He said: “The Ministry will soon come out with a plan of releasing N20billion to the contractors after signing the tripartite agreement in line with Presidential directives, which transferred the project to the Presidential Infrastructural Development Fund (PIDF) under the NSIA.

“The project, first awarded in 2006, was scheduled for completion by the end of 2010, but this could not be achieved due to inadequate funding.

“However, additional funding received between 2012 and 2015 from the African Development Bank (AFDB) and Subsidy Reinvestment and Development Programme (SURE-P) enabled the completion of two sections, which are now ready for commissioning.

“The outstanding sections and recently awarded upgrade contracts were rescheduled for completion by 2020.”