Rivers To Spend N2 bn On Federal Roads

About N2 billion have been released by the Rivers State Government to repair the failing Port Harcourt/Aba Expressway from the Oyigbo axis of the state.

The state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Dakuku Peterside disclosed this while speaking in a Silverbird Communications radio phone-in programme in Port Harcourt, Monday.

Peterside said the state was buoyed by the recent federal governments promise to refund money spent by the state government to rehabitate federal roads, noting that part of the Aba/Port Harcourt has become a death trap for motorists.

He stated that JDP Construction Company would soon commence repair work on the road, as the project forms part of the “Operation Zero Pothole” exercise embarked upon by the state government to rid roads in the state of gullies.

Responding to questions on the poor state of Elioparanwo Junction and some parts of Ada-George Road, Peterside said both roads would be reconstructed.

Most especially, he stated that the Elioparanwo  Road contract has been awarded to Gitto Construction Company, which would mobilise to site soon.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Works enjoined communities at the outskirts of the city where the exercise has not reached, to be patient as contractors would cover all parts of the state.

He explained that the “Operation Zero Pothole “ is an emergency exercise evolved by the state governor to ensure that the citizenry enjoy a pothole free ride during and after the rains.

He assured that in order to make the exercise effective the ministry has set up a ‘multi-layer’ supervision team to monitor contractors involved in the scheme.