The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has ordered the demolition of all shanties disrupting the ongoing dualisation of the Eastern Bypass Road in Port Harcourt.
He remarked that these unauthorised makeshift buildings along the Eastern Bypass Road constitute nuisance to the physical development plan of the state.
Wike stated this after inspection of ongoing dualisation of the Ogbunubali, Eastern Bypass roads, Oro-Abali flyover and the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas, last Wednesday.
The Rivers State governor, who said he was impressed with the quality of work done by Julius Berger on the Eastern Bypass, however, observed that shanties built along the road were delaying the completion of the road.
“I have directed my chief security officer to make sure all the shanties along the Eastern Bypass must be demolished.”
The governor said the Rivers State Government had repeatedly warned people against unauthorised building of kiosks and other structures that do not conform to the physical development plan of the state.
“And so, all those makeshift buildings along Eastern Bypass must be demolished within the next one week.”
Wike said the Rivers State Government was quite pleased with the ongoing dualisation of the Ogbunubali Road and the unwavering support the community has continued to give to the contractor, Julius Berger.
He stated that by the time the dualisation of the road was completed, it would transform the landscape of the densely populated Ogbunabali community in Port Harcourt.
“We are quite happy that before March next year, the dualization of Ogbunabali Road and the second phase of Eastern Bypass will be completed.”
The governor said Julius Berger engineers working on the Oro-Abali flyover in Port Harcourt, have assured that the project would be completed by December.
According to him, the flyover ought to have been completed by November, but added that the Julius Berger engineers had said they would require additional one month to finish the drainage work around the flyover.
He observed that by the time the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Rumuola, GRA and Oro-Abali flyovers; dualisation of Ezimgbu and Ogbunubali/Eastern Bypass roads were completed, residents of the state would heave a sigh of relief due to the traffic gridlock currently being experienced in these areas.
Wike described the quality of work at the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, Rumuokwuta in Obio/Akpor LGA as amazing.
He expressed optimism that Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, which was one of the major landmark projects of his administration, would be completed by June, 2022.
“We know that by June next year, by the grace of God, we will invite Nigerians to come and see what we have been able to do, as part of our own contribution to the healthcare system. This will be the first of its kind in the country.”