Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara on Tuesday at the Executive Council Chamber of Government House in Port Harcourt, presided over the council meeting to deliberate among several key policies, and approved the 33.5kikometers Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubina-Ikiri-Omoku road.
The State Executive Council deliberated and approved the N80.8billion dual carriage road awarded to Craneburg Construction Company. The sixth State Executive Council meeting also considered reports from the Ministery of Health
Addressing newsmen after the meeting, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Senibo Joe Johnson said the road project will be funded from the state’s savings rather than borrowing, adding that the strategy will also be applied to the Trans Kalabari road.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Atemea Briggs elaborated on the scope of the Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubina-Ikiri-Omoku road, stressing that the road which was initially a single lane would be dualised to 7.8 meter width. He emphasised that the road also has a 99 meter length bridge between Egbeda and Omoku and is expected to be completed in 24 months. The road cuts across three local government areas of the state to include, Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh listed a number of updates in the ministry, saying that the Nursing and Midwifery Council has given approval for the upgrade of the School of Nursing to College of Nursing Sciences following inspection and accreditation by the Council. She noted that with the upgrade the regulatory body also increased the admission capacity of the College to over 142%.
Dr. Oreh also highlighted on other updates to include the state emerging as the South-South winner of the Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge facilitated by UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation and the Nigeria Governors Forum to support the Ceato Declaration as well as the commencement of the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme.
The Acting Director of Public Procurement, Engr . Dr. Ine Tamunoprinye Briggs on her part said that the Bureau of Public Procurement having evaluated the documents submitted by the Ministry of Works for the construction and dualisation of the Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubina-Ikiri-Omoku road and to have complied with the laws, the bureau has issued a certificate of no objections for commencement of work on the projects.
The highlight of the meeting was admission of new members and permanent secretaries on observer status.
