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Engr. Jerome Egbe, KSM, Leads NICE Calabar to Endorse Governor Otu’s Road Projects, Offers Free Technical Support

 


The Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE), Calabar Chapter, has commended Governor Sen. (Apostle) Prince Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State for what it described as a revolutionary stride in civil infrastructure delivery, particularly in the ongoing construction of roads across the state.

In a landmark endorsement, the professional body passed a vote of confidence on the governor for his administration’s commitment to quality and adherence to standard engineering designs, especially in the construction of the Adiabo-Eseku Road and Bridges project in Odukpani Local Government Area.

Leading the high-powered delegation was the Special Adviser on Public Utilities, Engr. Dr. Jerome Egbe, KSM, who facilitated a spot assessment of the 8.25 km project. The road, which includes over 3 km of construction across swampy terrain, is being executed by Messrs Zenith Construction Limited. It is strategically designed to link Adiabo to the Creek Town Road junction, thereby connecting Calabar to its hinterlands and neighbouring Akwa Ibom State.

The project is expected to drastically reduce travel time, open up rural economies, and attract business development across the region.

According to technical briefings from the site, the contract scope includes swamp clearing and sand filling from CH 0+000 to CH 3+000, construction of two major bridges (60m and 180m), flexible pavement construction, concrete drainage systems, erosion stabilization, and culverts.

Addressing journalists, Chairman of NICE Calabar, Engr. (Dr) Nicholas Obeten, praised the Governor’s focus on quality delivery, noting that constructing roads in marshy areas requires advanced engineering approaches. He highlighted key techniques being implemented on the project:

✓Dewatering and Drainage: Removal of excess water and surface grading to protect structural integrity.

✓Soil Improvement: Use of granular fill, soil compaction, and geotextiles for ground stability.

✓Pile Foundations: Deep foundations driven into solid strata to support heavy infrastructure.

✓Flood-Resilient Design: Elevated structures and flood barriers to withstand seasonal flooding.

✓Material Selection: Durable and corrosion-resistant materials fit for swampy conditions.

Engr. Obeten revealed that the team also visited the contractor’s construction yard to conduct integrity tests on materials, emphasizing the need for compliance with safety and durability standards. He stressed the importance of even load distribution, seismic resilience, and sustainable road design in marshland areas.

He used the opportunity to reiterate NICE’s offer to the state government to provide free professional consultancy and technical supervision on civil infrastructure projects — part of the institution’s corporate social responsibility.

“We want to help ensure that quality is not compromised. The institution is offering our expertise at no cost to the state,” he said.

Engr. Obeten further appealed to the state government to support NICE with a utility vehicle to facilitate regular inspection exercises and to enhance indigenous technical manpower development through the office of the Special Adviser on Public Utilities.

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