RSG Set To Improve Water Supply

The administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, last week, took a bold step towards ensuring water supply across the state as it officially signed contract with three firms for the rehabilitation and upgrading of water supply services in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
The contract which targets the provision of 330,000 cubic meters of potable water per day would as well create 1,200 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs to indigenes of the state.
The three firms involved in the initiative are: CGC Nigeria Limited, Top International Engineering Corporation, and Mothercat Limited.
The Managing Director of Port Harcourt Water Corporation, Chief Ibibia Walter signed on behalf of the Rivers State Government while Chen Kangle signed for CGC Nigeria Limited. Yang Gengqi signed on behalf of Top International Engineering Corporation and Iskandar Taslakian signed for Mothercat Limited.
Speaking at the ceremony, held last Monday at Government House, Port Harcourt, Governor Wike stressed the need for the firms handling the contract to deliver quality job.
“I shall be visiting all project sites unannounced, to monitor progress and compliance with specification”, the Governor said.
The state Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, explained that the project would have four new reservoirs located at Rumuola, Diobu, Moscow, and Borikiri.
He also disclosed that there would be eight elevated tanks with the carrying capacity of about 1000 to 1500 cubic meters of water and about 17 boreholes in about six cluster areas connected to water treatment plant.
The representatives of the contracting companies assured of employing indigens to deliver quality job according to specifications.
In more obvious ways, the administration of Gov Wike, last week, proved itself as one with passion for Justice and strong support for judicial officers as it unveiled pallatious residential estate for Federal and State Judges built by the state Government.
The estate known as “Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma Judges Quarters” in Port Harcourt has 20 Four Bedroom Duplexes and meant for judges of Rivers origin serving both in the state and federal judiciaries.
Governor Wike noted that the project which cost the state Government a whopping sum of N6 billion would end the sad era when Judges retired and had no shelter.
Also last week, Court of Appeal Justices Residences and Staff Quarters built by the Rivers State Government under the administration of Governor Wike was inaugurated by the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.
The residences comprised Bedroom Duplex with Boys Quarters for the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, with four 6 Bedroom Duplexes at Forces Avenue, two 6 Bedroom Duplexes at Akasa Street, one 6 Bedroom Duplex at Elelenwo Street and one 4 Bedroom Bungalow at Ejor Street for other Judges and 16 Flats for staff of the Court of Appeal.
The Rivers State Chief Executive stated that the provision of accommodation for judicial officers is a deliberate attempt to enhance their productivity and also ensure that they benefited like those in the Executive and Legislative arms of Government.
Stressing that the judiciary is an indispensable arm of Government in the fight against corruption, the Governor said Judges cannot fight corruption when they were not provided with the basic facilities.
The CJN who was represented by Justice Mary Odili, Justice of the Supreme Court, commended Governor Wike for his support for the Judiciary and stressed that the provision of residential accommodation for Judges would promote the rule of law and access to Justice as he urged other governors to emulate the Rivers State Governor.
As the organised labour in Rivers State issued threat to embark on strike beginning from tomorrow, the Rivers State Government has warned that doing so would amount to contempt of court since there was an injunction already restraining such action.
The Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, gave the warning at a press briefing, Saturday, in Government House.

By: Chris Oluoh