The Rivers State Executive Council (EXCO) has approved the release of N78 billion for the completion of various ongoing projects and the kick-off of new ones.
The approval was given yesterday at the EXCO meeting chaired by Governor Nyesom Wike in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Isaac Kamalu, said the approval was given to ensure that ongoing projects were not left uncompleted by the contractors for lack of fund.
He said: “The Rivers State Government has released the sum of N78 billion for payment of ongoing projects and flag off of new projects across all the local government areas in the state.
“Again, the government has specifically released the sum of N1.8 bIllion, representing 80 per cent of the capital provisions for the judiciary in the 2022 budget for the services of the Rivers State Judiciary.”
Health Commissioner Prof Princewill Chike listed the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Diagnostics and Treatment Centre as one of the projects captured under the approval.
He said the project had been completed and the contractor paid.
Chike said: “You remember in June last year, (2021) N26 billion was earmarked for that contract. It’s been completed, well furnished with the most modern medical equipment for the attack of different types of cancers.
“And the other thing that the health sector benefitted is the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital where we have Basic Clinical Faculty and the Clinical Faculty as well as the Renal and Dialysis Centre and the House Officers Quarters which have also been completed and will be commissioned.”
The commissioner identified the Kelsey Harrison Hospital, which has reached an advanced completion stage and the Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital in Port Harcourt, as some of the projects being funded by the state government.
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The Commissioner for Special Projects, Deinma Iyalla, said the Council approved the ministry’s projects and ratified the sale of the remodelled Riv-Bank Insurance building.
He said: “Currently, the building is known as Senator John Azuta-Mbata House. Access Bank offered to buy the building for the sun if N3.8bn. It cost us N2.8bn to remodel it.
“The essence of the sale of this building, Access Bank promised that they are going to use it as their regional office, which means they will create employment and impact positively on economic activities within Port Harcourt.”
Iyalla said another project to benefit from the released fund was the sand-filling and reclamation of 20 hectares of land in Ogu town.
He said the fund would also serve for the completion of the University of Port Harcourt Convocation Arena, Ataba Secondary School reconstruction and furnishing, Rivers State University Staff quarters buildings at Ahoada, Etche, Emohua and the main campus.
The other projects listed for completion were: the 13.8km Rumuodogo 1 and 2 roads; Woji-Aleto-Alesa-Refinery Road; Hostel A and B and the auditorium at Yanagoa campus of the Nigerian Law School, Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute, Federal Judicial Service Commission liaison office building, Southsouth in Port Harcourt.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chinedu Mmom, listed the Government Secondary School, Eneka, Government Secondary School, Emohua, and the Government Secondary School, Imago in Abua/Odual Local Government as some of the projects captured under his ministry.
Others were the reconstruction and remodeling of the Kalabari High School, Buguma, Kalabari National College, (KNC)Buguma, the external works and furnishing of Western Ahoada High School, Government Secondary School, Ogu that is 90 per cent complete, and the Community Secondary School, Okoronudo that is 60 per cent complete.
The Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, said the council awarded new contracts and approved payment for ongoing projects.
“The projects spread across Local Government Areas and senatorial districts of the State. Some of which were approved today by council and some were ratified.”
He said the council approved the contract for the construction of 8.168km Abua-Emoh-Iyak-Ighom; Emoh/Egbolom access road and the 9.2m km Ekagho-Ogboloma-Adada link road in Abua/Odual Local government area.
George-Kelly explained that some other new road projects were the Alode-Onne road and Agbonchia-Ogale-Ebebu-East/West road, Alode internal roads in Eleme council; Eneka roundabout-IgboEtche link road in Obio-Akpor/Etche councils; Akpabu-Egbeda-Elele-Omoku link road; Akpabu-Odidi link road; Nkpor -Mgbuodohia link road; Elele internal roads; Elekahia internal roads among others.
The commissioner, who reinstated the resolve of the governor Wike’s administration not to abandon any project it started, further disclosed that the council approved payments for the ongoing Ahoada-Omoku dualisation project; Omoku-Aligwu-Kirigeni road, Omoku-Egbema road, Okochiri internal roads, Ogoni-Andoni Unity road, Chokocho-Igbodo road, flyover 11 and 12, dualisation of Bori-Kono road and several others.
Information Commissioner Chris Finebone said the governor has approved the appointment of 7000 Justices of Peace to help ensure the prevalence of peace, law and order within their jurisdiction.
“I am pleased to inform you that the State governor has just approved the appointment of 7000 Justices of Peace. It has been an all-round approach to development for which our people will be eternally grateful to our hard working governor”, he said.