By Joy Ude
Port Harcourt, June, 7, 2024
Rivers State Executive Council, has approved N74.9 billion for the reconstruction of the State House of Assembly auditorium, construction of Kalaibiama/Epellema road, and completion of four zonal hospitals across the state.
The approval was made on Friday at the meeting presided over by Gov.Siminalayi Fubara, in attend with Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu and other Council Members in Port Harcourt.
The state council in a statement issued to Newsmen by Mr Nelson Chukwudi, the Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, also approved the cancellation of all previous contracts awarded for the construction of those Zonal Hospitals.
They also approved is the renovation of Bonny General Hospital; renovation and upgrade of Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Rumuigbo; as well as construction of new General Hospital at Rumuigbo in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The reconstruction of the demolished Assembly auditorium will cost N19, 566 bn, the Kalaibiama-Epellema road and bridge in Opobo-Nkoro will cost N29,035 bn just as the hospitals will cost N26,350.
The Zonal Hospitals are located in Ahoada Town in Ahoada Local Government; Degema Town in Degema Local Government; Omoku Town in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government; and Bori Town in Khana Local Government Area.
The State Government said that it decided to complete the construction of the Zonal Hospitals in four Local Government Areas of the state to strengthen the secondary level healthcare delivery for the people.
Dr. Adaeze Oreh, the State Commissioner for Health briefing newsmen after the meeting, said the approval was sequel to the memos presented by the Ministry of Health to the State Executive Council.
Dr Oreh said the ministry requested for the approval of the cancellation and termination of è existing contracts for those zonal hospitals in the state, and the re-awarding of fresh contracts that will enable completion of the projects, including the renovation of the Bonny general hospital.
Dr Oreh stated that there was also the request for the renovation and upgrade of the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital and the construction of a new general hospital at Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
“That the request to the State Executive Council for the approval of the award of these contracts in total summed up to N26, 350,that was approved for the completion of those Zonal Hospitals, the renovation of Bonny General Hospital and the upgrade of the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital.
“This also included the construction of a new General Hospital at Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, which were not among those initially awarded for renovation.
“We are thankful to the Rivers State Executive Council that the various decisions sought and prayers that were made by the Rivers State Ministry of Health for the approval of the termination of the contracts for completion of the Zonal Hospitals at Ahoada, Bori, Degema and Omoku, and the re-award of fresh contracts for their completion were approved,”she said.
In a presentation, Engr.Ine Briggs, the acting Director General of the state Bureau for Public Procurement (RSBOPP), said due diligence had been done by the agency in scrutinising the projects and the cost efficiency.
Briggs added that after due diligence was conducted, the agancy issued certificates of no objection to each of the projects.
Briggs said that the Bureau was glad to inform the general public that it had duly carried out its regulatory function in ensuring that value for money has been met, economy has been met, fitness for purpose has been met in defending the stakeholders’ position in expenditure of fund from the state.
