One week after TNN’s report which drew the attention of the state governor, Sim Fubara to the plight of the people following the abandonment of the Port Harcourt Ring Road project by Julius Berger, the governor has given the assurance that work would soon resume.
Residents have had to go through gruesome experiences as a result of the abandoned road, especially during the rainy season. A woman even had the baby fall from a tricycle into one of the pools of water.
There was another case of a woman whose bag of garri fell into the flood water as the tricycle she boarded battled to wriggle out of the death trap that has become the Eneka- Rukpokwu Road.
On Monday, the governor was at the Eneka First Market end of the road, where a flyover has been constructed but abandoned, leaving the people to swim in the flood water and messy road.
Addressing journalists at the Eneka Flyover axis of the project, Fubara stated that his visit was to verify the level of compliance and commitment shown by the construction firm, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
He noted that discussions with the contractor had been ongoing to ensure that work resumes at full capacity after a period of financial challenges that affected the project’s continuity.
“You are aware that this project was, I won’t say abandoned, but somehow, for lack of funds, the contractor withdrew from the site. We have been discussing with them, and they gave me their word that although we have not finished all the discussions, they have already moved back to site, and I’m here to confirm that.”
The governor described the Port Harcourt Ring Road project, which traverses six local government areas, as one of the most significant infrastructure undertakings in the state’s history, noting that its completion would not only ease traffic congestion in the capital city but also stimulate economic activities across multiple local government areas.
“I want to make this promise to our good people of Rivers State. This project that we started, by the special grace of God, we are going to complete it. We owe our people a responsibility to deliver on our commitments, and this project will not be an exception,” he added.
