RSG To Links Coastal Areas By Road, Soon – Commissioner

The Rivers State Gov
ernment has said that arrangements are on top gear to link all coastal communities in the state by road, in a bid to encourage even development in the local councils.
The state Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr Samuel Eyiba, gave this hint yesterday in his office in Port Harcourt, while playing host to the Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mr Micheal Harvey and his team.
He said that the aim was also to ensure that no part of the state would be described as coastal area henceforth due to lack of good road network.
“The state is also trying to make all the local councils in the area “Upland” by building good road network”, he said.
Eyiba was not specific as to when the project would be delivered, but reasoned that it may likely be ready before the end of the present administration in the state.
The Tide learnt that the visit which was tagged “Partnership Strengthening Visit”, was target to produce a kind of synergy that would encourage investment in the local councils.
He maintained that those who have negative impression about the state are far from the real gist, adding that those living around have better success story to share.
The Commissioner  also described the state as predominant in oil and gas business with Bonny Local Government as the arrow head, hence the urgent need to link it with other parts of the state by road.
Describing, the state Governor Rt Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi as the most LG friendly governor, he said that he did not tamper with LG funds, hinting that he releases N2 billion to the commission monthly.
The Ekpeye born  administrator, noted that peace was the only needed tool for development in any state, thus the Amaechi – led government’s determination to maintain peaceful co-existence in the state.
According to him, the commission was in touch with other donor agencies in the state like, the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), to train young people on leadership skills in a bid to produce refined leaders in the future.
Meanwhile, the Mission Director, USAID, Mr Micheal Harvey, who admitted the level of transformation in the state, said that he was ready for a lasting relationship with the commission and state, while thanking the Governor and Commissioner over what he described as job well done.