Ruth NWORIE
Residents of and motorists around the Eneka axis of the Port Harcourt Ring Road are still in tears, weeks after the Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara, visited the area and promised that the construction giants, Julius Berger, will return to site.
Recall that penultimate Monday, Fubara had visited the Eneka axis of the ring road where he said “this afternoon, to confirm the commitment that Julius Berger gave to us — we have been in talks with them.
“We are aware that this project was not abandoned, but due to lack of funds, the contractor withdrew from the site. We have been discussing with them, and they have given me their word. Although we have not finished all the discussions, they will move into the site, and I am here to confirm that. Let me make this promise to our good people of Rivers State — this project that we started, by the grace of God, we are going to complete it.”
When TNN visited the area on Wednesday, it was observed that no equipment had been brought back to the site. One of the residents, Comrade Okey Waka, who spoke to our correspondent confirmed that the governor was at Eneka on Monday, but that they were yet to see any equipment at the site. However, he expressed hope that work would soon since the governor had made a promise.
He said “they have not started, but we are looking forward to them starting. The road is still bad, though it is passable — vehicles are still moving. They have not started bringing in equipment yet, but we expect that by the end of this week or month they will start, since the government promised to commence work immediately,”
he stated.
Another resident, Mr. Victor Dike, also spoke to TNN and confirmed that work had not started, but remained hopeful since the governor had given his words. “The work has not commenced as I speak to you now. But the work will commence since the governor has given his word. His words will not be trashed — for him to visit the site in person shows commitment. I know everything has a process; maybe the process has not been completed, hence the company handling the project has not redeployed their equipment to the site. But hopefully, they will do so.”
He also recounted how the bad road had damaged his Toyota car, which had just returned from the mechanic after two months.
“As I speak to you, I brought back my Toyota Camry car yesterday(Tuesday). The car was in the mechanic workshop for two months because the bottom was damaged. I had to repair and rebrand it, but this morning I still drove it on that same road because there is no alternative route. I believe that in no distant time, the governor’s words will come to pass and the road will be fixed.”
