Calabar — The Cross River State government has awarded contracts for the execution of electrification projects covering over 67 communities at the cost N1,586,003,992.10

Acting Director General of the State Electricity Agency, SEA, Mrs. Rosemary Atsu, who disclosed this to newsmen in Calabar, said the projects, for which 30% mobilization had already been paid to the various contractors, were expected to be completed within 12 months.

She added that while New Engineering (Nig) Ltd was handling the projects in the northern and central senatorial districts, Lelleker Brothers (Nig.) Ltd will be in charge of the southern senatorial district.

She said that the effort was borne out of government's strong desire to ensure that all its rural communities were fully covered by 2012, pointing out that the agency had so far spent over N3,043,792,992.10 on building and maintaining electricity infrastructure, which currently stands at over 75 percent coverage across the state.