While other state governors are borrowing to finance their projects, the Rivers State government says it does not need to borrow because of its prudence in the management of its internally generated revenue.
This was part of the disclosures by the state commissioner of information, Mr Joe Johnson, after the state executive council meeting, where N6.7billion was approved for the reconstruction of the 5-kilometre long Okania-Ogbogoro Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
Johnson said the Council also approved that the former contract with Nugi Nigeria Limited be terminated and the project re-awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
Johnson stated that a 40 percent mobilisation fees has been paid to the new contractor, CCECC, adding that the project will be funded entirely from savings in the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State.
He added that the State Government believes that it could fund virtually all its projects with savings from Internally Generated Revenue without necessarily borrowing from financial institutions because of its prudent application of scarce resources and funds to deliver good governance to Rivers people.
The information commissioner also explained that the State Government has begun the distilling and clearing of the Nta-Wogba Creek to check flooding in the Port Harcourt City centre in the State.
He further said that the State Government will soon begin rehabilitation work on the failed sections of the Igwuruta-Chokocho Road to assuage the discomfort experienced by the people in the area.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Atemea Briggs who spoke with journalists explained that the 5-kilometre long Okania-Ogbogoro Road stretches from Okania through Ogbogoro to Ozuoba.
He noted that road contract was initially awarded to Nugi Nigeria Limited on the April 12, 2017, but was abandoned after preliminary works.
Briggs said with the abandonment, the road collapsed, making it completely impassible thereby constituting a major traffic challenge to motorists, especially now that works have intensified on the Port Harcourt Ring Road that traverses part of Ozuoba.
“The proposed Okania-Ogbogoro Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area is about 5kilometres in length. It is connecting Okania to the major Ogbogoro-Ozuoba Road. Presently, the state of the road is completely impassible; and it is filled with water.
“The project was previously awarded to Nugi Nigeria Limited on April 12, 2017, and partial work was done up until 2020 when the contractor abandoned the project”.
According to him, “From that time, until now, due to the neglect, the major sections of the road, including the internal community roads have all collapsed.
“But presently, due to the outcry of the people around the area and commuters as a result of the ongoing construction of Port Harcourt Ring Road, the road is considered for reconstruction.
“The Council has approved a total sum of N6,734,865,277.88 kobo only for the road contract award. The period of the construction is expected to last only five months,” he said.
