Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the governor of Rivers State, claims that while the amount of civil construction work his administration has done to build the State has been costly, the overall advantages have remained a driving force.
On Wednesday, Governor Wike made the comment while touring some ongoing construction projects in the state’s Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas.
The projects that were inspected included the dualization of Azikiwe Street and Iloabuchi Road, the sand-filled area in Ogbunuabali Town, the eleventh flyover site at Location Junction along Mgbuogba-NTA Road, and the site for the twelfth flyover at Rumuokuta Round-about.
Governor Wike explained that the inspection was required to determine how the projects would affect the socioeconomic well-being of the locals.
“One of the reasons why we came is to see the impact of the roads and the flyovers. Of course, when the valuers brought the compensation report, we felt that it was too huge. So, we decided to go and see things for ourselves.
“But when we got there, we understood that a lot of buildings will be impacted and that requires us to compensate the owners of those houses heavily. But it is worth it in order to give Port Harcourt the facelift required and to transform the landscape of the area.”
According to Governor Wike, his administration has paid Julius Berger, the contractor handling the two new flyovers as well as the road dualization, 80% of the cost of the project despite the associated costs.
“We have been able to fulfil our part to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC. This place now (Illoabuchi Road), we have paid eighty percent for the dualization of Azikiwe Street/Ilaobuchi Road as at yesterday
“By Monday, we want to start paying for the compensation to owners of the buildings so that Julius Berger can start demolishing the affected structures.
The governor of Rivers State pleaded with the locals, especially those in Mile 2 Diobu, Port Harcourt, to be patient and put up with the inconvenience they would experience while the work was being done.
Governor Wike expressed his happiness at the fervor with which people flocked to meet him.
The governor claims that the numerous projects will give many young people in the region work.
“All we seek from them is the normal support they have been giving. We are happy with what we are doing. All we pray is that the residents of these areas should bear with us.
“It’s a short time of inconvenience, but at the end of the day, it is going to be to the benefit of those who are having economic activities in this area.
“In the next six months, you can imagine what will happen here. I think we made a promise to them, and like I’ve always said, every promise made will be fulfilled.”
Governor Wike continued by saying that the following round of project inauguration will start on August 8 and last for two weeks.
“From Monday, the 8th August the Orochiri -Worukwo flyover (Waterline Junction) will be commissioned by the governor of Lagos State, while the Ogbum-Nu-Abali/Eastern Bye-Pass Road will be commissioned on the 9th August by the former Governor of Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamakko.
All well-meaning Rivers residents were urged by Governor Wike to join the administration in thanking God Almighty for the work completed during the administration.
According to him, his administration has the ability to launch more projects while also starting new ones, which has never been done before.
“And I think you can’t hear anything happening in most of the States. But for us, we will end our services to the people on the 29th of May, 2023.
“Like I said no project will be left abandoned and that is why we have taken priority to make sure that the finances are there to back up these projects. If we don’t have the money, there is no need of awarding contracts.”
On his part, the Regional Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Juergen Fischer, promised that his company would do all within its powers to deliver the projects as agreed.
