New Works Commissioner Swings Into Action …Tasks Contractors On Quality, Deadline

Suspected cult members paraded by the Second Brigade of Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt on Tuesday

The Rivers State Government has charged contractors executing various road projects in the state to ensure compliance with specifications and deadlines in order not to incur the wrath of government.
The state Commissioner for Works, Bethel Iheanyichuku, gave the charge while inspecting some road projects in Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas as part of his first official assignment after taking over the mantle from the former commissioner, on Tuesday.
The projects inspected include, the Nkpogu-NLNG Road/Bridge Phase 2 in Port Harcourt City and Eligbolo-Rukpakulusi Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
While at the Nkpogu-NLNG Road/Bridge Phase 2, Iheanyichuku commended the contractor handling the reconstruction of the bridge, Monier Construction Company (MCC), for a thorough job, but cautioned that the state government would accept nothing but the best quality finishing.
The commissioner reminded the contractor that the bridge is expected to be completed in the next three months, but challenged MCC to speed up work to enable it meet deadline.
At the Eligbolo-Rukpakulusi Road project site, the commissioner expressed delight at the pace and quality of work so far done, and urged the contractor to ensure that work was completed on the road for commissioning before May 29.
He highlighted the significance of the road to effective free flow and management of traffic at the Rumuokoro Roundabout and Eliozu Flyover nodes, while emphasising that it would also enhance communication and interaction amongst peoples in the communities around the area.
Earlier before the inspection tour, the outgoing Commissioner for Works, Engr Kelvin Kinikanwo Wachukwu, had presented the official handover note to Bethel Iheanyichuku, as the new commissioner for works, with a charge on heads of departments and staff to give their unalloyed support to his successor in order to accentuate the vision of the present administration to take the state to the next level in physical infrastructure development.
Wachukwu told the HODs that: “Team work is the tool you can give for actualisation of the dream of Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration on road construction in our state.”
While congratulating his successor, Wachukwu noted that the task in the ministry was much, but expressed optimism that with the calibre and pedigree of staff, the new commissioner would not have any difficulty meeting his mandate.
Responding, the new Commissioner for Works, Bethel Iheanyichuku, promised to jump-start an accelerated infrastructure development footprint that would position the state in its rightful place in the nation’s infrastructure map, and solicited the symbiotic cooperation of all staff for the ministry to achieve the desired goal of the Wike-led administration for the people of the state.
“We have a single goal as Rivers people to drive the vision of this administration to a greater height”, Bethel said, adding in order to actualise this laudable vision, all must fall in line, as the government has zero-tolerance for laxity and incompetence.
In his remarks, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, James Enebeli, lauded the outgoing commissioner for the wealth of experience he brought to bear in the performance of his duties within the six months in office, saying: “We will not forget you in a hurry”.
Enebeli assured the new commissioner of the total support of the staff, promising that from now, “all hands will be on deck to move the affairs of the state to an enviable height”, noting that lessons learned will guide them in performing their duties.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana