Wike: Eight Years Of Infrastructure Revolution

Today, Governor Nyesom Wike will relinquish power to his successor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, after eight years of meritorious service to the people of Rivers State. Undoubtedly, Wike showed capacity and purposeful leadership which crystallised into the numerous projects that adorn the landscape of the state.
In fact, Governor Wike hit the ground running on assumption of office on May 29, 2015, fixing roads and bridges, re-organising institutions and establishments as well as opening up spaces for a vibrant and rebust economy that would be beneficial to all and sundry. Already, the roadmap to kick-start the reconstitution and rehabilitation of Rivers State had been laid down in his inaugural speech.
As the people’s governor bows out honorably from office in a historic moment that will be savoured by rivers people and true lovers of democracy, we shall refresh our minds on some of the legacy projects that will serve as a testament to his visionary leadership.
Governor Wike was very passionate about his urban renewal programme. To this end, the entire capital territory of Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor was turned into a huge construction site as various projects were executed simultaneously.
Among the projects that were completed and commissioned during his first tenure were Trans-Amadi Road, Justice Iche Ndu Road, Patience Jonathan Road, Ogbogoro Road, Choba – Rumuparaeli Road, Alakahia Road, Rumuosi Road, Prof. Tam David-West Boulevard, Okoro-nu-Odo Motor Park/Market, Mile One Market, etc.
The outing governor was not oblivious of the fact that the resources of the state are meant for the generality of people of Rivers State. Therefore, he had also given attention to the rural dwellers by embarking on projects that would make life more meaningful for them.
The Opobo-Andoni Road that will link the coastal communities with the upland is work in progress. In fact, the indigenes of the ancient kingdom of Opobo can now drive home in their vehicles.
The second phase of Isiokpo internal roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area was completed and commissioned as well as the Rumuji – Ibaa – Isiokpo Road in Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.
Also, the Omoku-Egbema Road in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Bolo internal roads in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Isiodu Road in Emohua Local Government Area, Aluu-Rumuekini Road in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Real Madrid Academy were completed and commissioned.
The first phase of the Kira-Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono dual carriage highway that cuts across three Local Government Areas in Ogoni land was  completed and commissioned while contract was also awarded for the second phase of the project.
Similarly, the Ehuda-Odioku-Anwunugboko- Ubeta-Ihuechi- Odiereke Road, the Odioku internal roads in Ahaoda West Local Government Area was  completed and commissioned.
The Sime-Eteo-Nonwa Road, linking Tai and Eleme Local Government Areas, and the Omuma Road in Omuma Local Government Area were also  completed and commissioned.
Governor Wike  equally made a tremendous impact in the Health sector. The Rivers State Government also commissioned the state-of-the-art Government House Clinic that had been rated highly by many dignitaries that visited the state, including former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Chief Whip of the Senate, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu.
Unveiling the Government House Clinic, Senator Saraki commended Governor Wike for his massive investment in critical infrastructure to jump-start sustainable transformation of the state.
He said that the governor’s decision to build the world class clinic was a demonstration of his commitment to make Rivers State the infrastructure hub of Nigeria.
According to him, with such bold initiative, the state would reclaim its status as the destination of choice for investments in key sectors of the nation’s economy.
He advised other governors to emulate Governor Wike in the delivery of the quality infrastructure projects in their respective states as a means of ensuring good governance to Nigerians.
The former Commissioner of Health, Professor Princewill Chike, gave a summary of the impressive components of the clinic with the following words:
“The clinic is fully equipped with Operating Theater, with a Monitored Recovery Room; C-Arm for Fluoroscopy; Top End Anesthesia Ventilator and Equipment; One fully equipped ICU ROOM with isolation requirements; latest ventilator and monitoring system; two Emergency Rooms, with oxygen and compressed air outlets, monitoring defibrillator and portable ventilator; Consultantation Rooms; fully equipped Endoscopy Suite for intervention in all endoscopes (gastroscopy; colonoscopy; and bronchoscopy), with Electrocautery and Argon Gas and coagulation; fully Automated Cleaning and Drying of Scopes, to minimize infections and prolong longevity.
“The new clinic also boasts of the latest 1.5 Tesla MRI General Electric; 64 slice CT scan General Electric; Ultrasound with different probes (cardiology, abdominal, vascular, OBS); Digital X-Ray; fully equipped Laboratory, independent with high tech machines for haematology, chemistry, hormonal studies ELISA and chromatography, cultures, microscope, blood bank and many other tasks.
“It also has a well stocked Pharmacy with medication storage area; friendly facility for disabled/physically challenged people; sterilization autoclave machines; automated water treatment machine UV and De-ionizer; One OBS room; 4 double bed rooms (total 8 beds), all equipped with a portable monitor with telemetry real-time transmission of all patients vitals to the central nurse station in the ward; One VIP lounge and room with continuous monitoring Wi-Fi as well as 24 hours ambulance service.
“All the equipment, monitors and desktops are connected through a computerized integrated system linking the Radiology with the Laboratory and the Electronic Patient Records, that can be checked and managed on-site, but also remotely, anywhere in the world, using an authorized access.
“Finally, the new clinic, parades a dedicated team and oersonbel6 that has undergone orientation/training on the use and working of the facility/available equipment”.
Before the commissioning of the clinic, Governor Wike had also made available 16.6 billion Naira to the Rivers State University, out of which 7.6 billion Naira was earmarked for the establishment of College of Medical Services, Faculty of Basic Medicines, Clinical Sciences and Pathology building at the institution.
The Rivers State Executive Council had given approval for the reactivation of Kelsey Harrison Hospital and Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital in addition to the renovations and upgrades of major hospital structures and facilities.
Again, the Wike administration had completed the 250-bed space Mother and Child Specialist Hospital.
Repeatedly, the governor had made it clear that he would continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state until the last day of his tenure.
”Before now, APC said we are doing roads only in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government. Now, they can’t talk again. We have commissioned projects in Khana, Gokana, Eleme. The other day we were in Akuku-Toru, yesterday, we were in Emohua. We are a government for every Rivers person and every local government”, Governor Wike said.
Inaugurating the Rumuekini-Aluu Road, former Secretary to the Government of Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, said he was delighted to associate with Wike because he had demonstrated through his projects that he was truly bonded with Rivers people and knew their needs.
According to Anyim, it is this level of leadership that has enabled Wike to conceive projects that were tailored to meeting those needs and eliminate the possibility of having white elephant projects.
“Governor Wike, because you commission projects, it is certain no projects will be abandoned. I am proud to identify with the progress that you have made.
“When I was invited for this commissioning. I did not really appreciate the magnitude of the work, the real impact of the governance Governor Wike has brought to Rivers State.
“But as we drove down here, the impression I have is that this Port Harcourt has expanded. It is only the government of the people that can expand a city to the extent that Port Harcourt has expanded”.
When Governor Wike assumed office in 2015, there were only nine flyovers in the capital territory of Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor for an oil-rich state that was created in 1967 with a population of over five million.
The flyovers are located at Isaac Boro Park, Kaduna Street, Rumuola, Air Force, Eliozu, Obiri-Ikwerre, Sani Abacha/Agip, Oil Mill/Eleme junction and Woji /Akpajo Link Road.
Owing to the influx of people to Rivers State as the the oil and gas hub of the country vehicular movement had been a major challenge for the city-dwellers and visitors as well. It was for this reason that Governor Wike took the bull by the horns by constructing twelve flyovers at strategic locations within the state capital in his second tenure.
The flyovers are Rebisi flyover, Okoro-nu-Odo flyover, Rumuogba flyover, GRA flyover, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo flyover, Orugbum flyover, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo flyover, Orochiri-Worukwo flyover, Rumuepirikom flyover, Rumuokwurusi flyover, Mgbuoba flyover and Rumuola/Rumuokwuta flyover.
Several personalities had lauded the governor for his developmental strides in the state. The then President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, spent two days in Rivers State to commission Rumuola/Rumuokwuta flyover and Magistrate Courts Building where he spoke glowingly about the person and character of Governor Wike. He described him as a dependable ally.
Among other projects commissioned by the out-going governor even at the twilight of his administration were Akpabu Odido Road in Emohua Local Government Area; Dualisation of Eneka-Igbo Etche Road; Ogbok Ihugodo Road in Ahoada East LGA; Mgbuosimini Road at Rumuolulmeni; Dualisation of Omoku-Ahoada Road and the Trans-Kalabari Road (Phase One).
Others were Oduoha internal road in Ahoada West LGA; Elele internal roads; Omagwa Internal roads; Dualisation of Azikiwe-Ilaobuchi road; reconstructed Government Secondary School, Omanwa in Ikwerre LGA; Mgbuoshimini internal roads; Rumuolumeni internal roads; satellite campuses of Rivers State University in Emohua; Etche and Ahoada LGAs.
Also commissioned were Judges Quarters; Port Harcourt Centre of the Nigeria Law School; reconstructed Government Secondary School, Kpor; reconstructed Government Secondary School, Eneka; Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute; Okochiri Internal roads (Phase Two); Elekahia internal roads; Dr Peter Odili Cardiovascular Diagnostic Centre; Mother and Child Hospital; Abalama Sand Field project and Rukpakwulushi Link Road.
Others were  Saakpenwa-Bori Road (Phase Two); Kono-Opobo Road (Phase One); Ogu-Ekporo- Kporgor-Wakama Road; Chokocho, Igbodo Road in Etche; Akpabu, Egbeda, Omoku Link road; reconstructed Community Secondary School, Okoro-nu-Odo; Igwuruta internal roads; Rumuigbo internal roads;  Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Secondary School adjoining road; Abuloma  internal roads; ultra-modern Hostels for Medical Students of Rivers State University; world-class Abattoir, among others.
Speaking at the valedictory session before the dissolution of the Rivers State Executive Council, the former Commissioner for Works, George -Kelly Dakorinma Alabo, said over 920 kilometers of roads and 600 kilometers of drains were constructed by the Wike administration in eight years. What an impressive scorecard!
Although Governor Wike had given a good account of himself with his numerous achievements which drew accolades and recognition from far and near, there is no gainsaying the fact that no single administration world over can address all the problems confronting a people. Government is a continuum.
On this note, we welcome the new government ably led by a seasoned administrator and financial expert, His Excellency, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, on a mission that will take the state to greater heights in a few years to come.

By: Reward Akwu