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Rivers: ‘N15bn Auto Spare Parts Centre Ready In Five Months’
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State (middle), with a Director in MCC, Mr Nelson Jaja (left), during an inspection of Rumuolumeni Road project in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: NAN
The first phase of the Ultra Modern Auto Spare parts centre located along the Port Harcourt – Aba express way estimated to cost N15 billion, will be ready is five months’ time.
The Managing Director of Ground Support Engineering Consortium, Chief A. Aluge, who disclosed this in an interview with The Tide during the ground breaking ceremony of the centre by State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, at the weekend, said that the money is already in the custody of a commercial bank in Port Harcourt.
Aluge also said that the construction of the complex will be done in line with specifications, stressing that the company has already mobilized to site for the commencement of construction activities, promsing to complete the project in five months.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Spare Parts Dealers and Automobile Technicians, Mr. Maxwell I. Anonye, has said that the centre is designed to be the best in West Africa, and is meant to overtake other centres in Idumota and Alaba in Lagos State, Alaoji in Aba, Abia State, and Nnewi in Anambra State.
He also said that, the centre is an encompassing technology centre in areas such as; automobile designing, fabrication, sales and marketing, repairs, and maintenance, among others.
“This project no doubt’s a multi-billion Naira project. We are also aware of doubts being expressed in same quarters about our ability to complete the project.
“On this note, therefore, we want to assure you that we have since prepared for this project, and will surely complete it in record time”, he told the governor.
He also thanked the host communities for accommodating the project, and stressed the willingness of the association to institute a training programme for their children in the auto business.
On his part, Legal Adviser of Ground Support Engineering Limited, Mr. Geoffrey Ezeji, assured that the project will be completed as schedule.
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, said that the construction of Ultra-Modern Spare Parts Dealers and Automobile Technicians’ Complex in the state is a manifestation of government on-going efforts towards achieving organized development of the state.
The state chief executive noted that since the creation of the state in 1967, the Spare Parts Dealers and Automobile Technicians have operated haphazardly in unplanned locations and uncertain sections around the Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs like Ikoku and Olu-Obasanjo Road, thereby hindering development of the areas.
While acknowledging the value of service they provided towards the commercial viability of the state, in spite of being a source of worry to residents and visitors who share in the vision of making Port Harcourt one of the functional cities in the country, Wike commended the proactive initiative by the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, (GPHDA), in partnership with SPATMART Limited to provide accommodation for spare parts dealers and automobile technicians doing business in the state.
”However, while we contend with the high population of the city and the need to move them to a more suitable and comfortable location, we cannot but also appreciate the value of the service they provide to the commercial viability of the state.
“This is why we commend the proactive initiative by the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority, (GPHDA) to propose a modern facility on 28 hectares of land in partnership with SPATMART Limited to accommodate spare parts dealers and automobile technicians doing business in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas,” he asserted.
The state chief cxecutive also observed that the impact of the facility will act as a catalyst for the economic development of the state, lead to wider development of the communities by creating numerous business opportunities to improve the quality of life of the people, and expressed government support for projects geared towards the development of the state.
Wike pleaded with the people of the area, especially the youth, to embrace the project as an economic hub that is designed and created for them to explore and exploit meaningfully by setting themselves up with smaller businesses to improve their capabilities and earn a desired living.
“As a government, we are fully in support of such a purposeful initiative that synchronizes with government policy thrust of driving the development of the state for the deliberate and active involvement of the private sector,” Wike observed.
He restated government’s commitment to creating the enabling environment to attract investors in order to create jobs for the youth and also benefit from their investments, and urged the partners to commence work immediately in order to deliver the project within the 18 months stipulated time.
Chief Alabaraba lauded the Governor for making it possible for the process of relocating members of Spare parts Dealers and Automobile technicians to commence within the first sixty days in office and solicited for more partnership from the private sector to realize its dreams.
Highlighting the project description, the Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority, Ambassador Desmond Akawor who noted that the project was approved by the Development Control Department of the Authority, promised to ensure that all construction were carried out within specification, saying when completed, the project will be first of its kind in Africa.
Also speaking, the State Chairman, Spare Parts Dealers and Automobile Technicians Association, Maxwell Anoye said the multi billion naira complex will house everything required in Automobile business and thanked Governor Wike for coming to their aid which past administration neglected.
Also speaking, Chairman, Board of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, said that the first phase of the ultra-modern Auto Spare Parts Centre would be completed in five months.
Anabraba, who disclosed this, also said that the entire project would be completed in 18 months.
He also described the ceremony as an important milestone in the realisation of a dream nurtured over the years, adding that for a long time, Motor Spare Parts dealers at the Ikoku Market have been yearning to move to a permanent site.
He said that the movement to a permanent site, which started four years ago, was hampered by some obstacles which included the problem of land acquisition, lack of approval of certificate of occupancy as well as settlement and payment of compensation to the landlords.
Anabraba, thanked Governor Nyesom Wike for removing the obstacles within the first 60 days of his administration.
He also said that the project design had been approved, and restated the commitment of the authority to open its doors for more partnerships with prospective investors in the state.
Meanwhile, about 444Km of major internal roads and arteries are to be constructed within the complex.
The Sole Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, who said this, further added that the complex will house sewage and water reticulation plants, 11 restaurants and 18 public conveniences.
Also to be housed at the complex, according to him, are a sickbay, Police Post, Car Park, crèche, administrative block, auto workshop, amongst others.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.