Cross River Piles and Pylons Factory In Akamkpa LGA All You Need to Know
The Piles and Pylons Factory built by Governor Ben Ayade is one of the rarest projects to be undertaken by a state government anywhere in Africa.
The Factory is a replica of the federal government-owned Ajaokuta Steel Company. It was established to fabricate pre-stressed concrete brick piles, steel and other associated components of iron for the building of all-metal forms.
This legacy project was done to enhance the production of Piles for underground seaport structures and pylons for above-ground structures to hold quay walls for ships to berth using metal and reinforced concrete poles.
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The establishment of the Piles and Pylons Factory in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the State is a huge boost to Nigeria\’s metallurgical industry; it is an idea whose benefits will favour the marine and electrical industries in the country because of its enormous impacts.
During its initial test operation before the EndSars attacks on the facility, the Factory fabricated some of the high tension electric power poles currently in use in the state. Despite the obvious setbacks occasioned by the attacks, Governor Ayade has reinvented the Factory.
Aside from being used to build port development infrastructure and support powerlines distribution, another focal function of the factory is that the pylons can be used for construction works taller than 80 meters.
The Akamkpa Piles and Pylons Factory compares favourably to western engineering, in terms of strength of materials, longevity and construction man-hours.
The Factory was (deliberately) conceived to manufacture vibrated concrete poles with a more guaranteed life-span to withstand the strong wind torrents of coastal states like Nigeria. It is another phase of Industrial triumph because of its complementary role with the Bakassi Deep Seaport.
Eugene Upah is the Snr Special Assistant to Cross River Governor Ben Ayade on Public Communications