The Rivers State government has signed fresh agreements with construction giants Julius Berger to develop infrastructure in the state.
Speaking at the signing of a memorandum, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, said his administration is in a hurry to develop new cities.
According to him, the construction of the Port Harcourt Ring Road project will facilitate the achievement of the objective with enduring quality infrastructure provided for the people. He assured that his administration would follow up to ensure the delivery of the projects.
Governor Fubara spoke moments after the signing of the contract papers at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zacheaus Adangor, Commissioner for Works, Dr George Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Mrs Ebere Dennis Emenike, signed the dotted lines for the State while Julius Beger’s Managing Director, Dr Lars Ritcher and Raymond Marisho, Assistant Regional Manager, signed for the company.
Governor Fubara further explained that the best time to start a project that has a completion period of 36 months “is now”, adding that it was for this that “75 percent of the contract sum of N195.3B has been released to make Julius Berger give the required urgency to the project.”
The governor also charged traditional rulers and youths to own the project that will traverse their communities and to do nothing to disrupt its progress and completion time.
“It is important that everybody should give the necessary support because we need this project for development to come. Initially, people will suffer some inconveniences, but in the end, it will benefit all,” he said.
Governor Fubara also assured that while the Port Harcourt Ring Road project is ongoing, his administration will not relent in giving attention to other critical sectors, including the health sector, by providing the requisite infrastructure and also supporting them to deliver the best service to Rivers people.
Commenting, Dr Ritcher noted that the company had been part of the infrastructural transformation of the immediate past administration and assured that the company would not compromise quality and timeliness in delivering the project because of the sustained confidence in them.
