News
Port Harcourt Residents Decry Water Shortages
The efforts of the Chibuike Amaechi-led administration in Rivers State in providing social amenities stand threatened as companies executing road projects in the State are causing severe damages to utility channels.
Last Monday, residents of Azuabie and its adjoining communities woke up to find the water channels at Zoo Roundabout, which supply the area with water from the Trans Amadi Station reportedly burst by RCC Ltd, the company doing a road project there.
According to the Station Manager of the Trans Amadi Station, Mr. O.E. Enwere, the damage to the channel has rendered the more than 2,500 residents of the area without water with several gallons of water wasted, a situation some residents who spoke to this reporter attributed to carelessness and lack of due diligence on the part of the company.
Similarly, the water channel at Ndoki Street, off New Layout Street in the Township area of Port Harcourt was, on Thursday, November 5, 2009, allegedly burst by a construction company, Sam Owutubo Nigeria Ltd, putting about three thousand residents of the area in jeopardy of having no water.
The Rumuola/Rumuokwuta area of Port Harcourt has over the years been having persistent issues with damages done to water channels. In fact, a few months back MCC, the company reconstructing the road linking Port Harcourt/Aba Expressway to Ikwerre Road got some water channels there damaged though they were repaired shortly after.
Incidents of damage, burying and outright destruction of channels providing the people access to social amenities raises the question of adherence to due diligence and best practices in executing developmental projects with experts saying that companies doing construction projects especially roads in urban and rural areas with channels providing social amenities are supposed to relocate such channels putting them out of harm’s way.
A top functionary of this administration, who spoke on condition of anonymity, regretted this anomaly, saying “over the years it is obvious that water utilities in Port Harcourt and other parts of the State have been neglected, while some have been damaged, buried or destroyed out-rightly in the course of doing roads”.
He added that “given this negative impact the construction of roads is having on these channels, the efforts of the Ministry of Water Resources under the newly appointed Commissioner, Miss Patricia Simon-Hart, at rehabilitating water facilities and structures in the State risks being undermined except something is urgently done”.
Speaking to this reporter, residents of the affected areas unanimously called on the State Governor to intervene in the matter so that water supply could be restored to the affected areas.
Our findings indicate that with the new drive of the Ministry, the improvement in power generation across the State, and the firm resolve of the Governor Amaechi-led administration, the people of Rivers State have no business being without water as there are three water stations in Port Harcourt supplying the various parts of the State capital.
So far, the State Ministry of Water Resources has reactivated all the water pumping stations in the Port Harcourt area with water supply resumed in parts of Port Harcourt, including Old Port Harcourt Township, Harbour Road, Marine Base, Old GRA, Ogbum-na-Abali, Trans-Amadi, Elekahia, among others.
What the State Government resolves to do about this situation stands to be seen as the clamour for restoration of the damaged water channels and calling of the erring companies to order to avoid further disruption of utilities in the State.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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