Shocking facts are emerging from Government House Port Harcourt on the messy financial dealings under the tenure of Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State, contrary to the impression created by the former governor when he handed over to Sim Fubara.
Last year when Wike handed over power, he had created the impression that he was not indebted to anybody. But on Wednesday, Fubara announced that he inherited 34 uncompleted road projects worth over 225.279 billion naira spread across 13 local government areas of the state.
While giving account of his stewardship in the last one year, Fubara said “we started this journey with a bang. We were focused. We were determined to make the change we promised with a sense of urgency. But then, somehow, we suddenly found ourselves in the cesspit of crisis barely three months into our tenure.
“It was not just an ordinary political crisis. It was a vicious existential crisis. But thank goodness, the worst is over. We have successfully defended our right and opportunity to govern our State and advance its progress in freedom, and we will continue to prevail.
He said despite the distractions as a result of the political feud between him and Wike, he was able to initiate some projects during the period. “As patriots, we are all looking forward to the day when all Rivers State will be interconnected by roads and bridges, which only the government can make possible in partnership with the private sector and our development partners.
1We initiated the construction of 9 new road projects of our own worth 534.332 billion naira, including the Port Harcourt dual-carriage Ring Road, Ndoni junction – Onita Creek link road in Onelga, Umuakali – Eberi road in Omuma LGA, Aleto-Ebubu-Etoe junction road in Eleme LGA, Ebocha – Ndoni link road in Onelga, Extension of Chokocho – Igbodo road in Etche LGA to Imo State boundary section with Rivers State, Dualization of Elele–Egbeda-Omoku road, Reconstruction of Okania-Ogbogoro road in Obio/Akpor LGA and the Trans-Kalabari road.
He said: “I wish to emphasize that with a combined cost of 528.6 billion naira, the 50.15 kilometres Port Harcourt dual-carriage Ring Road, the dualization of Elele-Egbeda-Omoku road and the Trans-Kalabari road projects are three most ambitious road projects ever carried out by any Governor in Rivers State.
“The 50.15 kilometres Port Harcourt Dual Carriage Ring Road with 6 flyovers, one river crossing, walkways, drains, streetlights and spanning 6 local government areas was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at a total cost of N195.3 billion naira for a 36-month completion period. The speed with which the project is advancing shows that this administration is in a hurry to deliver this project even before the due date with the 77% down payment of 150 billion naira to the contractor. Presently, work on the project is progressing satisfactorily from six different locations.
“The 33.5-kilometre Elele-Egbeda-Omoku road was awarded on the 26th of March 2024 at a total cost of N80.886 billion naira to Craneburge Construction Company with a down payment of 50 per cent of the contract sum and 24-month completion timeline. The contractor has since commenced work on this project.
“The 12.1-kilometre all-swamp with 6 bridges Trans-Kalabari road, which stretches from Rumuolumeni to Bakana and Tombia, was awarded to Lubrik Construction Company Limited on 20th May 2024 at a total cost of N225.3 billion, with a down payment of 30% of the contract sum and 36-month completion timeline.
“It is also necessary to reiterate that only the Port Harcourt Ring Road is being funded with borrowed funds. The Elele-Egbeda-Omoku road and the Trans-Kalabari road are being funded from accumulated savings from our much-improved IGR and other revenue receipts.
“I wish to assure you that we are determined to complete these ambitious road projects within the lifespan of this administration to advance interconnectivity across the State, enhance movements of goods and services, and accelerate the socio-economic development of the impacted communities and the entire state in general.”
He said the projects were being funded from revenue generated from the state, apart from one project which was being funded through a loan.
Hear him: “As of today, we have made payment in the sum of N6,127,212,625.93 on the Woji-Aleto-Alesa- Refinery Road & Bridge with Spur to East-West Road, N4,000,000,000.00 for Bori internal roads, N5,600,000,000.00 for Elelenwo internal road; N873,407,615.00 on Sand Filling & Reclamation Works at Abonnema; and N512,180,622.40 on Sand Filling & Reclamation Works at Kula.
“We also paid N896,886,000.00 for the ongoing desilting/evacuation of debris and maintenance works at the Ntawoba canal to control the perennial overflow and flooding of the environment during the rainy season from that source.”
He pleaded with those who have been giving him sleepless nights to let him have some peace to enable him concentrate in governance. “Let me appeal to the opposition that we need peace and security, not crisis and trauma for Rivers State to develop, grow from strength to strength and occupy its pride of place in the comity of States as the best place to visit, live, work, do business and raise our children.”
