Cross River Govt to engage advisor for proposed cement plant

The Cross River Ministry of Solid Minerals Development says it has opened Expression of Interest (EOI) bid for engagement of a Transaction Advisor for the design and construction of its proposed cement plant project.

The Commissioner, Mr George O’Ben-Etchi, said this in a message to a stakeholders’ meeting in Calabar on Thursday.

O’Ben-Etchi, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Mr Sunday Ita, said that the bidding was a fulfilment of the state government’s policy on due process.

“This exercise is as a result of His Excellency’s (Gov. Ben Ayade) initiative to establish a cement plant in order to reduce the state’s over dependence on Federal allocation, ’’ he said.

He said that the Federal allocations were being largely affected by the dwindling oil prices and was barely enough to run the state, ‘’ he said.

According to him, the positive outcome of the project will be of great benefit to the people of Cross River.

O’Ben-Etchi assured bidders that the process would be transparent, adding that only the best and most qualified would be selected for proficiency.

Mr John Ubleble, representing Due Process and Price Intelligence Bureau (DPPIB), said he was impressed with the manner of approach by the ministry in its affairs.

He advised those who were not satisfied with the process to seek redress in the office of the Due Process.

In the same vein, a Representative of Bureau of Public Private Partnership (BPPP), Mr Akpama Okon, said that the role of BPPP in the exercise was to review, evaluate and monitor the activities of the contractors.

Okon said that any projects that  had to do with the BPPP,  must involve heads of MDAs to be properly advised on the formalities of the bureau.

The scope of assignment for the transaction with advisor will include advice on the preparation of a bankable feasibility report; choosing the location, clearing, design, construction and furnishing of the cement factory.

It also includes provision of equipment, construction of the factory’s road network and landscaping.

Gov. Ben Ayade, on assumption of office, proposed to build a cement plant at Akamkpa, in Akamkpa Local Government Area to serve as a feeder to the proposed Super Highway project.

 

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