Jubilation Trails Re-award Of Igwuruta Road Contract

The recently announced re-award of Igwuruta road contract to a new contractor, Ukra Construction Company Nigeria Limited by the Rivers State Ministry of Works has been lauded by motorists and residents of the area.

The Nye-We-Ali Igwuruta, His Royal Highness, Eze Prof Samuel Wekhe described the action of the state government as a step that would bring to an end years of hardship by the people as a result of the poor state of the road.

The royal father who commended Gov Rotimi Amaechi for re-awarding the contract disclosed that the socio-economic life of Igwuruta people was negatively affected as the people were cut off  from each other. “You can’t visit your brother or at friends at the other end of Igwuruta and those whose children were schooling at the other end had to withdraw them because of the terrible nature of the road,” he explained.

Eze Wekhe appealed to the new contractor to endeavour to execute the project as quickly as possible stressing that the road is strategic in view of its linkage to Etche where most of the farm produce gets to other parts of the state as well as providing  link to other neighbouring states.

Also expressing some excitements, Mr. Chukwuma Jona, a trader in the area said,” I thank Gov Amaechi for reawarding the Igwuruta road contract because for more ‘than two years my shop has suffered lack of patronage due to the poor road and my customers no longer come to my shop,” he said.

Apart from the residents, some motorists who ply the road also expressed gratitude to the state government for taking action on the road.

“I learnt the former contractor died and because of that, the road was abandoned for over two years now. I thank the governor for coming to the aid of the people because the suffering has been too much,” said Mr Clement Mpi one of the bus drivers.

Mr Mpi who plies the Okehi/Port Harcourt route said” the state of the road remained travellers nightmare, the deep pote holes and stagnant  water result in damages to cars.”

He however expressed fear over the seriousness of the new contractor handling the road and appealed to the government to monitor the contractor closely so that the project execution would be of standard and completed in time for the sake of the suffering masses.

Leticia Opusunju