The N3.9 billion Okrika Ring Road project will be commissioned Tuesday as part of activities to mark the third anniversary of the administration of the Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

The state  Commissioner for Works, Mr. Dakuku Peterside who dropped the hint in an exclusive interview with The Tide said the project would be commissioned by the Senate President, Senator David Mark.

Peterside, recalled that the project which was initiated by the Dr. Peter Odili administration had suffered four failed attempts by previous governments to execute it.

“I am extremely excited about Okrika Ring Road because it was a challenge to previous governments and we accomplished it in record time,” the commissioner said.

He said Okrika is bubbling with life and excitement ahead of Tuesday’s commissioning of the project, saying celebration is also the mood of Rivers people for the good job the Amaechi government has done in three years.

According to the commissioner, the project was originally planned on a small scale at the cost of N900 million but the Amaechi government altered the design and totally changed the scope which brought the cost to nearly N4 billion.

The commissioner said the Ogoni/Andoni/Opobo Unity Road would be delivered next year, pointing out that the project which was awarded at the cost of N 11 billion was now valued at N27 billion as a result of adjustments in the original scope and time lapse. However, actual financial commitment to the project so far, was about N15billion, the commissioner said.

He regretted that owing to changes in the design of bridges, the road would not reach Kalaibiama-Opobo this Christmas season as was envisaged.

According to him, the initial design of bridges on the road did not make enough head room for light river crafts.

This, he said, had led to an alteration of the scope of the job and subsequent recourse to due process for a review with attendant loss of time.

“We will not shy away because we made public statements and said it is no longer going to be, the commissioner said.

It would be recalled that Governor Amaechi had assured the people of Opobo during a Town Hall meeting in Opobo Town recently, that the Unity Road, which is now through to Nkoro, Asarama, Ebukuma and beyond, would get to Kalaibima by December, this year.

Meanwhile, government, the commissioner said, was still searching for partners that would join it in translating the Port Harcourt Ring Road plan into reality following the withdrawal of the Chinese who initially showed interest in the project.

The Works Commissioner said the Chinese pulled out of the project following the global recession which affected their country and funds available at their disposal for investment.

Explaining that the Port Harcourt Ring Road project was conceptualized as a Public Private Partnership, Peterside said the Amaechi government believes it is a viable project which the private sector will take advantage of.

“Like we said from point one, we are not going to commit government funds into it because we believe it is a viable project,” he said, expressing optimism that government would get a partner to actualise the project.

The Port Harcourt Ring Road project is expected to be a six-lane, 105 kilometre road with a cable bridge all valued at about N105 billion.