RSG Plans Three New Cities

Determined to actualize its NEW Vision programme for the state, the Rivers State Government has planned the development of three new cities in the state.
The three new cities to be developed include, Bori, Degema, and Isiokpo, headquarters of Khana, Degema and Ikwerre local government areas, respectively, in the three senatorial districts of the state.
The Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Chinyere Igwe, who disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The Tide in his office in Port Harcourt, added that the development of the three new cities would help decongest the state capital, and push projects that could create employment opportunities for the people away from Port Harcourt.
He explained that the master plan for social and economic transformation of the new cities has been finalized, while state-of-the-art infrastructure development projects have already been earmarked to jump-start socio-economic life in Bori, Degema and Isiokpo.
Igwe also said that development projects would be extended to all the local government headquarters as well as the small towns and villages to boost economic and social activities and reduce crime rate and the level of insecurity in the state.
He said that the on-going demolition of shanties and illegal structures in both Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas will be extended to the proposed three new cities very soon in order not allow any distortion in the original development plan of the mega city.
The commissioner said that the exercise was not meant to witch-hunt anyone but designed to bring Port Harcourt back to its Garden City status, and also check flooding, obstruction of traffic flow and criminality in the state.
According to him, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning was currently on a sensitization campaign with a view to getting the support of the people towards the urban renewal programme.
He added that when the people are carried along, government would more speedily realize its goal of fast-tracking the execution of people-oriented development projects across the state.