Rivers Completes 26 Power Sub-Stations …As Amaechi Tasks EU,AfDB On Water …Assures Open, Responsive Governance

As part of efforts towards ensuring stable power supply in Rivers State, the state government has completed 26 power substations across the state.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi who disclosed this yesterday during the first quarterly open governance forum organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications in Port Harcourt, said that the government was building 180-megawatt power station at Afam in Oyigbo Local Government Area.

The governor, who expressed delight over the improvement of power supply in the state, also said that a town hall meeting on power would be held before the end of April after which prepaid meters would be sold to households in the state.

Governor Amaechi said that the government had put into  an escrow account the sum of N500million for free medical treatment at the Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Port Harcourt, but noted that free treatment in the hospital would be based on evidence of tax payment.

He also said that  120 health centres had been completed and  fully furnished, while the Dental Hospital, Port Harcourt was being run by foreigners.

The state Chief Executive further said that the administration was targeting the commissioning of 250 model primary schools in  250 days while the model secondary school at Saakpenwa, headquarters of Tai Local Government Area would soon be commissioned.

In a similar development, the government has restated its commitment towards the  completion of all projects in the state.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Levi Gogo Charles, who said this during the forum, said that between 2008 and 2012, the government made remarkable improvement in execution of project.

Giving details of the breakdown in capital projects execution, Mr Charles said that the state recorded 72.61 per cent in 2008 which earned it a grade A mark, adding that this was followed by a slight reduction of 51.62 per cent in 2009.

The commissioner further said that 2010 and 2011 saw a tremendous improvement of 75.14 and 98.23 per cent, respectively, while the government witnessed reduction in project performance in 2012 at 73.84 per cent.

He said that the government was focused on ensuring that every on-going project was completed, stressing that the state was open to constructive criticisms that would help the  government to fine-tune those areas that are not doing well.

Meanwhile Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has called on the European Union, African Development Bank and World Bank to support the state’s quest in the provision of affordable and sustainable water following the blueprint so far laid by his admninistration to provide water to the people.

He reminded the development partners at a forum on Rivers State Water Development Conference last Wednesday in Port Harcourt, that already, the state had meet the requirement for a loan to drive the sector.

In the view of the governor, “ further delay may lead to more deaths’ as a result of what he called rising water borne diseases.

Governor Amaechi said his administration’s rural and urban water schemes would provide potable water, stressing that clean and sustainable water was essential for the well-being of the people.

He disclosed that he had directed the state Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Ms. Patricia Simon-Hart, to put together a list of  all water projects in the state and start to make them work.

In her address, the state Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Ms Patricia Simon-Hart disclosed that the State Government had resolved to reform the state’s water sector in order to offer sound water governance and deliver efficient service to the people.

“In Rivers State, we have made a decision to reform the water sector to ensure that we provide sound water governance and strengthen the institutions to deliver services effectively. The most significant progress made in this process, which started in 2009 is the formulation of the Rivers State Water Policy document, its subsequent passage by the State Executive Council and the signing of the Water Sector Development bill into law by Governor Amaechi”.

In the keynote address, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, represented by Ononye Beredugo, said the Federal Ministry of Water Resources would support the Rivers State water development initiative and provide leadership, direction and coordination for the initiative, saying, water was central to national development, that is why the President Goodluck Jonathan administration places importance on the sector”.

It would be recalled that theme of the state Water Development Conference is, “Improving Service  Delivery through better water cooperation.

In a related development, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says his administration will continue to listen to the voice of the people in order to ensure transparency, good governance and accountability in its efforts at developing the state.

Governor Amaechi said this yesterday during the first Open Governance Forum with civil society groups organised by the state Ministry of Information and Communications in Port Harcourt.

Represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, the governor stated that, “we will continue talking with the people. We will continue to listen to our people,” reiterating that his administration would not renege on its vision and promise to render quality service delivery and accountable stewardship to the people of the state, adding that “all the projects done so far by the government are all aimed at touching the lives of the people”.

Governor Amaechi, who is the chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), stressed the need for strategic collaboration with the civil society organisations in ensuring the sustainability of the various people-oriented projects across the State, explaining that the government had created an enabling environment for investors to come and invest in the state.

Earlier, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, had said that the first Open Governance Forum, with the theme “Your Right To Be Heard” is in line with the government’s  transparency agenda, pointing out that it was aimed at giving civil society organizations the opportunity to ask questions and have first hand information on the policies and projects of the Governor Amaechi-led government, maintaining that the forum would be holding on a quarterly basis.

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, with Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Richard Ofuru, during the Open Governance Forum with civil society organisations in Port Harcourt, yesterday.