RSG Demands 40% Refund From Trans-Kalabari Road Contracts

Rivers State Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has appealed to the Amanyanabo of Kalabari, King (Prof.) Theophilus Princewill to prevail on his subjects that were contractors to the Trans-Kalabari road to urgently refund the 40 per cent initial payments made to them by the state government, to enable government speed up its plans to commence construction of the road.

Governor Amaechi said the appeal became necessary since the contractors who are indigenes of the area had abandoned the job after collecting huge amount of money for the project.

The governor, who was speaking at the Palace of the Amanyanabo of I<alabari HRM, Prof Theophilus Princewill during a courtesy visit on him as part of the Town Hall meeting in Buguma, headquarters of Asari Toru Local Government Area Friday, said the state government was determined to complete the road project.

He described the Trans-I<alabari road as an important project that his administration would complete in spite of the huge funds it is expected to gulp, stressing that some identified problems concerning the project were being addressed.

The State Chief Executive while responding to questions later at the I<NC Buguma field, disclosed that contract for the building of a new cultural centre has been awarded, and urged the people not to disturb contractors handling government projects because a law against harassment of land developers has been put in place and anyone arrested in connection with such offence faces three years imprisonment on conviction.

The governor equally appealed to the people to patronize the health centres nearest to them and not to rush to the Braithwaite Memorial Hospital (BMH) with minor ailments that can be easily handled at the Primary Health Care level and hinted that the Mother and Child hospital would be established at the site of the former UPTH to tackle infant and maternal related health problems.

On the shortage of teachers in rural schools across the state, Governor Amaechi said the state government would give incentives to teachers posted to the rural communities, emphasizing that most of the new Model Primary Schools are being equipped to enable the pupils use the facilities.

The Chairman of Asari Toru Local Government Area Mr Ojukaye Flagg Amachree thanked the State Governor for the infrastructural development in his Council Areas that traverse the communities and assured that the people of Asari Toru are solidly behind the policies and programmes of government.