Appraising Public Works In Rivers State

The disclosure, penultimate week, of the completion of various public works in Rivers State by the Commissioner for Works, Mr Dakuku Peterside, presents yet another opportunity to appraise one of the most important sectors in any government.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, the commissioner said the Eleme Flyover complex and the LNG bridge on the Eastern Bye-Pass are now partially open to traffic while hundred per cent drainage had been achieved along the old Aba Road.

Also tremendous progress had been made in Tam David West Road spanning from NTA across the East-West Road to the airport on which the first 900 meters have been completed while work is now on-going on the remaining stretch of 13 kilometers.

But of even greater interest to road users in Rivers State is the fact that all major roads in Port Harcourt are being dualised to meet the ever increasing vehicular traffic in the city.

On the whole, the administration of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has awarded contracts for the construction of 560 kilometres of road in the state out of which 30 road projects are known to be completed.

These, no doubt, are monumental achievements considering the short life-span of the administration and many other competing needs for which the scarce resources need be applied.

The Tide commends the state works ministry for realising that basic infrastructure is a key driving force for economic activities in the city and for thus far demonstrating a rare sense of service and purpose in that sector.

We say so because we are aware that prior to the Amaechi government only about 400 kilometres of road were constructed by successive administrations which have been overstretched by the increasing population of city dwellers on account of rural-urban drift, population explosion, hydro-carbon related activities and indeed other multinational investments.

To say that vehicular traffic in Port Harcourt, the Rives State Capital, has for years now been a major problem, is to put mildly. This is indeed why the Rivers State government’s commitment to infrastructural development, not merely makes sense but truly development-oriented.

On the last count, various road construction works have been commissioned in virtually all the local government areas with a view to encouraging more aggressive economic activities and link the rural areas to the capital city.

However, The Tide calls on the works ministry to channel the same drive, commitment and focus towards addressing the vexed problem of excessive flooding on account of blocked drainages along some major roads during the rains. That way road users and indeed the people would appreciate the quality services being rendered in the works sector.

Happily, as an interventionist measure, government, The Tide understands, has set up an inter-ministerial committee to address the problem of drainage and flooding in the city. This body, it is explained, should consider its assignment as a big challenge because the problem of excessive flooding during the rains is one that touches motorists and pedestrians alike and more often than not plays a major role in the true assessment of successful administration’s achievements.

Thus far, The Tide believers that the works ministry has performed reasonably well to earn public confidence and support but must be told in clear terms that a lot still remains to be done.