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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.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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