By Joy Ude
Port Harcourt,May, 25, 2024
Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, of Rivers,on Friday flagged off a N6.7 billion road construction project at the Okania Ogbogoro Town, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers.
Fubara during the flag-off event thanked the Okania- Ogbogoro community for their support for the party to win the Governorship election in the state.
Fubara said that the state was embarking on a huge project on the construction of the ring road which made the government to take a decision on builing the Okania -Ogbogoro road to easy the suffering of the people.
He said that the road in particular would take off some pressure faced by the commuters from the main routes that they were familiar with.
Fubara said that fixing the road would improve the economy of the people living in the area and also improve the security of the environment.
“We are thinking not just for ourselves but for the good of the people living in the state, so we want to say support us so that we will continue to deliver on our dividends of democracy.
He said that his administration would be committed to good governance to the people.
Fubara assured the community that his administration would grant their request on providing, good hospital, rehabilitation of their school and building of more internal roads.
He said that the state Ministry of Special Projects would take up the project of the palace of the King in that community to give it a befitting palace.
Fubara urged the people to continue to be focus, conduct themselves in the face of all assault.
Fubara assured that the Okania-Ogbogoro community road would be commissioned in the next 5 months.
The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works in Rivers, Engr.Atemea Briggs, describing the project, said that the road was initially awarded by the immediate past administration in April, 2017,
“This road was abandoned in March, 2020, after preliminary works, leaving the unprotected road bed, shoulders and short stretches of drainages already collapsed,”he said.
Briggs said that Gov. Fubara took the initiative of re-awarding the road to another contractor in order to solve protracted difficulties the people who live and work in the axis had experienced.
“This 5.0 Km long road cuts across Okania community through Ogbogoro community, connecting to the Port Harcourt ring road project that is also under construction.
“The road is 10 meters wide with a drainage length of 2.5km, It was awarded to CCECC Nigeria Limited on April 22, 2024, at the cost of N6.7billion,
“The 40 per cent of the contract value, amounting to N2.69billion has been paid to the contractor as mobilisation fee.
“The project is expected to be completed in five months,”Brigss said.
Briggs said the project demonstrates the priority the current administration placed on the welfare of the people of Rivers, who would be the greatest beneficiaries of the road, when delivered.
In a remark,Engr Eric Shen,the Executive Director, South-South Region, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC),expressed gratitude to the Rivers state government for the confidence reposed in them to play pivotal role in contributing its quota to actualising the infrastructure development policy of making life better for the people.
Shen reassured the commitment of the company to delivering the project according to specification, noting that the road would improve connectivity within the neighbourhood to the Port Harcourt Ring Road.
Mr Chijioke Ihunwo, the Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Rivers State Chapter, on behalf of the community recalled the pains and the challenges faced by the community due to the deplorable nature of the road being flagged-off.
Ihunwu thanked the Fubara for coming to their aid, and pledged continued support of the people to the administration.
Ihunwu appealed to the state government to provide health centre to meet the healthcare needs of the people, the rehabilitation of the Community Secondary School, and the reconstruction of the internal roads in the area