A New Skyline For The Garden City!

With the inauguration of new and strategically located flyovers in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, without doubt, has gifted a new skyline to the Garden City, writes Ernest Chinwo.
Since the early 1970s when
the then Military Governor of the old Rivers State, Alfred Diete-Spiff, constructed the State Secretariat, no governor of both old and present day Rivers State has done so much to change the face of Port Harcourt as Governor Nyesom Wike has done.
Governors have come and gone. They have made their own contributions to the development of the state. No doubt. But since the 1970s, visitors to the Port Harcourt metropolis have wondered if the city is actually the headquarters of the oil and gas industry of the nation. The city had remained its old drab self: you can close your eyes and describe the city in your heart from Eleme Junction to Old Township and the end of Borikiri even if you had not visited the city for decades.
Nothing significantly seemed to change. But that was until Wike was elected Governor in 2015. Within his 100 days in office, he did not only demystify governance, he embarked on projects with so much ferocity as if he was on a sprint and not a long distance race that was expected to last at least four years in the initial term.
The first set of projects included the Creek Road – Churchill – Borokiri (Harold Wilson) Road, Industry Road, Nkpogu Road and Bridge, Peter Odili Road –Woji Road and Bridges, rehabilitation of the Eleme – Onne section of the East/West Road, Elioparanwo Road, Rumueprikom (Whimpey) – Rumuolumeni Road, Evo Road in GRA II, Law Faculty Complex in the Rivers State University, Eagle Island – Iloabuchi Road and Bridge, among others.
While the projects listed above gave a glimpse of what was to come, the construction of Port Harcourt Pleasure Park transformed the entire stretch of the Air Force to Bori Camp section of Aba Road that had become a den of criminals and filth to world class tourist attraction and entertainment hub.
At the time, some people even criticised the development of the Pleasure Park, insisting that the city has no need for such a recreational park and describing the artificial lake there as a mere burrow pit. Today, they know better and have quietly eaten their words.
But even when the governor was yet to unfold mega projects in the state, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, described him as Mr. Projects. Many people were taken aback, thinking that it was one of those political niceties, especially since both belong to opposing political parties. But facts on ground show that the vice president spoke the minds of the people both within and outside the state. That Governor Wike is “obsessed” with projects execution is no longer in doubt.
While he embarked on diverse projects in all areas and sectors of the state that won him accolades across the country, many thought that in his second tenure, he would toe the path of many politicians: lay back as a sitting duck as some analysts would say. After all, he would not be running another gubernatorial election and can afford to relax, play his little politics and generally enjoy the office of governor.
But that is not for Wike. After a hard won second tenure, considering the efforts and machinations of the All Progressive Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government and its agencies to ensure he did not return, Wike assured the people of the state: “You Ain’t seen ‘nothin’ yet” (Bachman & Turner: Overdrive). American President Ronald Reagan re-echoed same message in his remarks at his re-election victory celebration on November 6, 1984.
Wike promised the people that he would work even harder and execute more people-oriented projects in his second tenure. Surely visitors to Port Harcourt metropolis since 2019 will attest to the fact that this is not the City that they used to know.
From the massive urban renewal projects in the Old and New GRAs, to the massive overhaul of the major roads leading into the Garden City through the construction of flyovers at strategic locations to free the state capital from the crippling traffic jams and congestions, the city is indeed wearing a new look.
Wike embarked on the construction of six flyovers almost simultaneously: Rebisi (Garrison), Okoro-Nu-Odo, Rumuogba 1 & 2, GRA Junction, Rumuola (Expansion) and Kaduna Street Junction of Aba Road (Expansion).
The Rebisi Flyover, which was flagged off on October 24, 2019 and was expected to be delivered in 16 months, was achieved within 12 months and inaugurated on Saturday, November 7, 2020 by Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola (SAN).
Fashola, who took a walk on the 969.4 metres-long Rebisi Flyover with his host, Wike, applauded the massive urban regeneration and renewal programme of the Rivers State Governor and said such development efforts would promote peace among residents, tourism and return Port Harcourt to its Garden City Status.
The minister, who had earlier visited the Rumuogba, Okoro-Nu-Odu, Rumuola and GRA Junction flyovers, said: “What I witnessed is a massive urban regeneration and urban renewal of Port Harcourt”.
One unique thing, the Minister commended Wike for naming the Rebisi Flyover, which is located at a place popularly called Garrison Junction, after the community.
“This place use to be known as Garrison. But, clearly as we begin to shed our military toga and our democracy ages and deepen, we will see a rebirth in our unity, our oneness and our shared developmental aspiration,” he said.
Interestingly, most of the projects initiated by Wike has been named after the communities where they are located or after Rivers State indigenes or residents who have excelled in their chosen professions or vocations.
At the inauguration of the Rebisi Flyover which was to open the floodgate of other bridges, Wike said when the State Government flagged off the Rebisi, Okoro-Nu-Odu and Rumuogba flyovers simultaneously in October 2019, many sceptics, had questioned the possibility of the State completing the projects within the estimated time frame of 16 months.
Looking back, it is obvious that the governor has proven his sceptics wrong as he has not only completed or almost completed the flyovers; his administration has embarked on the construction of more bridges to the extent that the construction of flyovers has become a regular joke among the city residents.
On Monday, March 1, former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, performed the inauguration of Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover while former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, also commissioned Rumuogba 1 and 2 Flyover on Tuesday, March 2.
In a flurry of inauguration of projects, on Wednesday, March 3, former Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, unveiled reconstructed Tombia Crescent, Opobo Crescent and Isaiah Odolu Streets in GRA Phase 2 while former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was Special Guest of Honour on Thursday, March 4 to commission the new Government House Clinic/Administrative Building. Wike renamed the reconstructed Tombia Crescent after Rivers State Elder Statesman, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.
Earlier that same day, the state signed the contract for two new flyovers at Ikwerre Road/Olu-Obasanjo(Ikokwu) and Aba Road/Rumukalagbor( Waterlines) Junctions with Julius Berger.
On Friday, March 5, the South-South Zonal Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fagged off the construction of the seventh flyover: Ikwerre Road/Olu Obasanjo (Ikokwu) Flyover named Nkpolu-Oroworukwo Flyover while on Saturday, March 6 former Governor of Rivers State, Celestine Omehia, fagged off that of the eight flyover located at the intersection of Olu Obasanjo Road and Port Harcourt-Aba Road (Waterlines Junction) now named Orochiri/Worukwo Flyover.
The flyovers that changed the face of The Garden Citry did not come without its costs. Expectedly, residents of the city were subjected to hardship occasioned by diversions and closed roads to pave the way for the construction giant, Julius Berger PLC, to carry out its assignment of changing the landscape of the state capital.
Indeed, it was and still a nightmare for people residing or doing business in the outskirts of the city to access or exit the city centre. They had to spend hours on end meandering through side roads and streets, sometimes even through private estates as was the case at Rumuogba.
But the people are already heaving a sigh of relief, seeing the benefits of the completed bridges. The roads have opened up and as the Governor said, the people are beginning to reap the fruits of their patience.
If the flyovers changed the skyline of Port Harcourt, other projects scattered around the state have further made Rivers State the envy of other states. There is the Port Harcourt Real Madrid Academy inaugurated on March 9 that has brought hope to thousands of talented youth across the state and the nation, and expectations of huge revenue from sports to the nation.
The Minister of Youths and Sport, Sunday Dare, who unveiled the academy, said Wike has laid a standard for football development for others to emulate.
He described the academy as a worthy and long-term investment in human and capital development that would soon be the new oil well of Rivers State and huge revenue earner for the country and many families.
The Minister also declared that the Academy would change the age-long wrong perception and narrative about Rivers and Nigeria as it produces future stars for the country and also for one of the best teams in the world, Real Madrid.
“The Real Madrid Football Academy Port Harcourt is an educational tool capable of contributing to the comprehensive development of personality of our youth by creating jobs and wealth. The Academy divides its activities into sports, educational and cultural. This is in sync with our philosophy of combining education and sports. The speed at which this project was completed must make other countries green with envy.
“This Academy would not only produce golden boys and girls, but bring prosperity and honour to our great country. What you have envisioned is indeed awesome and monumental. This Academy is simply fantastic and a monumental achievement that would inspire new generation of talents,” the minister said.
Wike, on his part, has said he is only rewarding the people and residents of the state for the belief, confidence and entrusting the leadership of the state in his care.
He said the construction of eight flyover bridges in Port Harcourt alongside other critical infrastructure is a mark of appreciation to Rivers people who steadfastly resisted attempt to use the army and other security agencies to rig his government out of power in 2019.
“Why we are doing this is because you too played a role in bringing us to Government. We also have to pay you back. Remember during the last election how the Army and other security agencies tried to rig us out in that election. All of you here came out and resisted that. So, for us, having given us that privilege, we have no other choice but to give you good infrastructure.”
Some critics had said the construction of the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo and the Orochiri-Wurukwo flyovers were unnecessary but explained that they are intended to address traffic jam that will arise when the construction work on the Rumuola and GRA junction flyovers are completed.
He appealed to motorists and commuters to bear the inconvenience they would experience throughout the duration of the construction of the eighth flyover.
The governor had earlier said he would use the N78 billion refunded the state by the Federal Government for federal roads rehabilitated by the state to provide more critical projects across the state to further drive the efforts at enhancing the socio-economic life of Rivers people.
“Rivers people, the Federal Government has refunded us the money. I have not touched a dime yet and it is in the bank. I will use it for project execution.
“I kept it to tell those who are making noise to know that I am going to work till the last day in office. I will continue to work for the interest of our people. I’m not resting.
“They need to know that I will make sure what is supposed to be done for the people of Rivers State is done. I will persist until we have improved and changed Rivers State and brought it back to what it’s supposed to be,” he had said about the refund.
Reacting to the new face of the state, veteran Rivers State Journalist, Mr. Blessing Wikina, described the flyovers as “A thing of beauty is a joy forever,” the title of a poem by the famous British Poet, John Keats.
Another veteran journalist, Joe Ezuma, also said, “Even if they send any juju after any person in Port Harcourt, the deity is likely to miss its way as Port Harcourt is no more the place they used to know.”
Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim, also said, “Indeed, with the torrent of complimentary comments that have been pouring in since the commissioning of the flyovers have become the latest, most impressive tourist attraction to grace the landscape of the beautiful Garden City of Nigeria.”
With gleaming lights streaming through the flyovers and their surroundings, well partitioned, paved and covered spaces along the areas around the bridges, Port Harcourt is indeed returning to its former status, The Garden City, thanks to the efforts of Wike, Mr. Quality Projects.

By: Ernest Chinwo