In line with the State Government’s plan to improve the living conditions of Rivers people and enhance access to safe, adequate and sustainable water supply and sanitation, the Rivers State Government has promised to pay its 30 per cent counter-part fund contribution for the European Union Niger Delta Support Programme (EU-NDSP)- sponsored component 3 for Water and Sanitation Project.
This assurance was given by the Rivers State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Chief Ibibia O.Walter at a workshop on information sharing for Rivers State beneficiaries on the project status held in Port Harcourt.
Walter assured the Eu-NDSP Technical Assistant Team Leader, Mr. Albert Achten and the benefitting Communities in Akuku—Toru and Opobo/Nkoro Local |Government Areas that the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike was committed to the provision of potable and clean water for every Community in the state.
The Commissioner stated that the states counterpart contribution of N200 million, which is a prerequisite for the European Union’s 70 per cent contribution of N500 million, would be released in the shortest possible time to enable the project commence.
The Water Resources and Rural Development Commissioner, however, commended the benefitting communities for their resilience in contributing their 5 per cent maintenance contributions, which was an indication that they were more than willing to take ownership of the projects, once completed.
Earlier at the workshop, the Team Leader of the Technical Assistant Team of the EU-NDSP project, Mr. Albert Achten, had said that the project must comply with EU standards on project funding.
Representatives of the benefitting communities’ Water Consumer Associations (WCAs) spoke on the level of the communities’ preparedness for the project.
The benefiting communities include Abissa, Abonnema, Kula in Akuku-Toru LGA and Kalaibiama, Opobo and Nkoro in Opobo/Nkoro LGA.
In his remarks, representative of the Secretary to the state Government and Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, commended the Ministry and EU-NDSP for the initiative, which is geared towards the provision of adequate water for Rivers people while reiterating the state government’s readiness to fulfill it’s campaign promises.
Dignitaries at the workshop were representatives of the Commissioners for Youth, Women Affairs and Budget and Economic Planning.
Others are the benefitting Communities and other  dignitaries amongst who was the Amanyanabo of Opobo and Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Dandeson Douglas Jaja.
It would be recalled that the European Union signed a five-year contribution agreement worth #20.6 million to boost rural water and sanitation projects in the Niger Delta region.
Meanwhile, barring any last minute changes, the Rivers State Government will today commence the enforcement and implementation of development control law in the state after a weeklong state wide orientation and enlightenment campaign by the state Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning.
The Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Hon Chinyere Igwe, who stated this last week while sensitizing the public on reasons why they should build according to plans, warned that traders who sell their wares along the streets and operators of illegal motor parks would be arrested and prosecuted according to the law.
Igwe reiterated the  Nyesom  Wike-led government’s commitment to restoring the status of the state capital as the Garden City, stating that the ministry will  enforce the urban development control law to the letter.
He also warned those involved in mounting illegal billboards to desist from the act, stating that if arrested, the government would look at the laws and deal with them, accordingly.
He regretted that traders abandoned markets and moved to the road side to sell their wares, thereby obstructing traffic and risking their lives and that of other road users.
According to him, “Most of the markets are abandoned by traders only to move to the roads to operate. During our enlightenment campaign last week, we found out that the Rumuokoro market was deserted. The market was empty, all the traders relocated to the road side. We also experienced the same thing in all the motor parks visited in the state capital, where all the vehicles operate from the road, and allow traders to take over the parks.
‘’We are not saying they should not sell or operate, but they should move back to the markets and parks built for that purpose instead of operating illegally and defacing the city. The state government encourages small and medium scale businesses but they should operate within the confines of the law’’, he said.
He also appealed to the public to always seek approval for their building plans before building, warning that any structure that does not get approval from the ministry would be demolished.
Igwe warned the contractors in charge of the construction of Air Force stores by Market Junction in Port Harcourt to contact the ministry immediately, stressing that some of the billboards mounted, fall short of the law.
The commissioner assured that his ministry will maintain the development plans of the city, as he urged developers to cooperate with the government in realizing its aim and mission to restore the state capital as the Garden City.