RSG Awards N300bn Contracts In 3 Years

Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (2nd right), assisted by former SSG, Chief Sampson Agbaru (right), member House of Representative, Hon Andrew Uchendu (left) and Chairman, Emohua Local Government, Engr Emeka Woke, during the commissioning of Emohua Ultra -Modern Market, last Saturday.

Rivers State Government says it  awarded contracts above N300 billion in the past three years for the various infrastructural and other projects initiated in all parts of the state by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

However, actual expenditure on these projects within the period under review is about N180 billion.

The State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Dakuku Peterside stated this while taking stock of the projects initiated by the Amaechi government, in an exclusive interview. He said contracts had been awarded for the construction of over 1,000 kilometres of roads and 30 bridges in addition to existing ones.

“The New Mile One Market, New Town Market, shore protection/land reclamation and sub-surface drains in all parts of the state and Port Harcourt are some of the projects covered by the contracts, Peterside said.

He said government was aware of concerns among the populace over the completion of all the projects, and said, “we are not ignorant of the fact that our tenure is fixed and we are expected to accomplish much within the specified tenure. We will accomplish all we set out to do before the end of our tenure”.

Answering a question, the commissioner said the government had continued to hold contract defaulters accountable, pointing out that some indigenous contractors involved in the failed Trans-Kalabari Road project who did not have the capacity to do the project were already refunding money to government while efforts were being made to put the project back on course.

“One thing I want to assure the public is that no contractor that defaulted will go unpunished”, he said.

The commissioner restated the commitment of the Governor Amaechi administration to deliver all the four intra-city flyover projects within its tenure. The flyover projects include those at Eleme Junction, Eliozu, Agip and Ada George -NTA junctions.

“I have not gone back on my words. Before the end of this administration, we will deliver those four flyover projects”, Peterside said.