Buhari commissions 1.5 Ekok/Mfum Bridge and Joint Border Post in Cross River
President Buhari and President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, performed the joint inauguration of the 1.5 km Ekok/Mfum Bridge and Joint Border Post (JBP) at Mfun, Cross River State.
After decades of economic hardship on Cross Riverians and commercial vehicle drivers using the old Ikom bridge, the Buhari administration has finally completed the new and 2nd Ikom Bridge.
The bridge is 1.5 kilometres. Unlike the old and dilapidated bridge, the new multibillion naira bridge has no canopy and allows heavy trucks to convey goods to and from the Northern part of Nigeria. Before now, when some big and fully loaded trucks got to the old bridge, the drivers had to offload their goods and drive through the bridge before loading back the goods due to the canopy on the old bridge.
The completed Ikom bridge and the ongoing Obubra-Yakurr-Biase-Akamkpa-Odukpani road rehabilitation project are about the biggest federal projects in Cross River State since 1999. The bridge was funded by African Development Bank, AfDB; and World Bank.
Performing the ceremony, both Presidents said the link bridge project would deepen socio-economic and diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Cameroon, while the Joint Border Post would not only strengthen the existing cordial relations but enhance the volume of economic activities in the region, as well as movement of persons, goods and services with countries along the corridors.
President Buhari said that the Bridge will serve as a vital link between the Western and Southern African regions. The Federal Republic of Nigeria also expects that this Joint Border Post and bridge will enhance security patrol and facilitate effective cooperation in this part of our border with the Republic of Cameroon”.
The President added, “It is also our hope that it will complement the efforts of the Governments of Nigeria and Cameroon to combat the scourge of terrorism and violent extremism in our region”, he added…What is most important is that this bridge connects Nigeria and Cameroon.
It is the beginning of a trans-African connection. We are not just trying to connect Nigeria and Cameroon; we are trying to connect Lagos to Mombasa in Kenya and this is the significance of this bridge,” he said.
The two-lane 1.5 kilometer project was awarded to CGCOG Group in the total sum of $35,836,552.38 paid equally by Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon with loan facility sourced from the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The construction of the bridge began on April 28, 2017 and was completed in March 2021 at the cost of $35.9 billion.
The Joint Border Bridge is one of the projects under the Transport Facilitation Programme for the Bamenda-Enugu Corridor otherwise known as the Nigeria/Cameroon Multinational Highway and Transport Facilitation Programme (NCMH&TFP).
