The Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has awarded 19.7km Kalabari Road Project to Julius Berger at the cost of N30 Billion.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, held yesterday in Port-Harcourt, the Gov. Fubara revealed that amid the seized revenue allocations of the state his government has continued to initiate new projects and to mobilise contractors to sites.
The Governor who also led a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, to flag-off the construction of Buguma-Abalama-Tema-Degema-Abonnema road awarded to Julius Berger.
He said his government paid the contractor N9.1bn, 30 per cent mobilisation for the 19.7km road despite the challenges posed by the seizure of the state’s allocations to prove his determination for the development of the State.
Gov. Fubara said his decision to award the contract and pay the mobilisation fee is borne out of his administration’s love for the Kalabari people.
The governor, who was received by a mammoth crowd in the area, said the Kalabari axis had benefitted immensely from his administration, adding that his administration had already committed N225bn on the Trans-Kalabari road project.
He noted that the only project he had done in his Opobo area is the Ring Road, which he said is less than N10bn adding that the other section of the road to connect Kalaibiama to Epellema is also less than N21bn.
“The contractor has assured us that they will do a good job and I believe that at the end or before 15 months life may be different here. The issue of criminality along the bad section of the road will be a thing of the past and other development will follow”.
“It takes one, who loves you to do this. In my place the only thing that I have done is the ring road, which is less than N10bn. The other section of the road is the Kalaibiama and the connection to Epellema,.which is also less than N21bn.
On why the government decided to construct the 19.7km road, he said: “We were here about six months ago when we came to commission the section of Emohua -Terma junction road. On that occasion you requested that fixing the section of Emohua to Tema is not good enough because the other section of the road is very bad.
“Traversing from this junction to Degema to Abonnema was a nightmare. And as a government that listens and a government that has compassion for its people because governance is about the people, we decided to look into your request and by the grace of God today, though not in our style, but because of your request that you want to showcase this event, I granted to flag it off, if not I wouldn’t have been here”.
Addressing the people, he said: “Our love for you is pure. Our mission is to make sure that every sector and section of this state is developed equally”.
On the requests of the people for more projects in the area, the governor said his government had done a lot in the area.
“We need to look at other places. But that is not to say that we will not visit the Ifoko-Tema bridge, that is important, because it connects two communities. We will visit that project.
“So, let me thank you again for your support and assure you that other aspects of your demands, healthcare, education and empowerment will continue to be on the top burner of this government”, he said.
The governor advised his supporters to look beyond their personal benefits and focus on the lasting legacies of his administration designed to give them better opportunities in the state.
He urged the youths and the entire people to give the contractor the necessary support, and ensure that the project is not sabotaged.
“Please don’t allow the enemies to use you to sabotage this project. We know what is happening each time we want to do any good thing they go behind to sabotage it. It is your project, own it, defend it”, he said.
Sir Fubara pointed out that he chose Ajumogobia to flag off the project because he hailed from the area and understood the problems of Kalabari people.
Kicking off the project, the Special Guest and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Henry Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, lamented that generational neglect had impoverished the people of Abonnema and recalled that the area used to have a functional Port.
He commended Gov. Fubara for restarting the process of developing the area particularly what he referred to as the tenacity of purpose and courage in building the Trans-Kalabari road.
He said: “This access brings inclusivity, urban development, and reduces rural-urban migration. With this road that we are flagging off I can live in Buguma, or Degema or Abonnema and work in Port Harcourt. That is what you are doing for us Your Excellency, and for that we are so grateful”.
He said Gov. Fubara’s predecessors avoided the Trans-Kalabari road because of its magnitude and aquatic terrain.
Ajumogobia said that nobody had expected that six months after the governor was shown the terrible nature of the 19.7km road, he would be in the area to flag it off.
Addressing the governor, he said: “I believe that when your time comes to an end after you have finished as governor of Rivers State, we will all remember today and all these wonderful initiatives you have carried out to show your love.
“Nobody invests N225bn anywhere unless he really loves the people, who are going to benefit from that project. Although this road is a fantastic infrastructure project, it is more than that it is a testament of your character, testament of your mobility and a testament of everything that is good in good governance.
Describing the project, the Commissioner for Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, said the road starts from Buguma in Asari-Toru Local Government and covers communities in other councils of Degema and Akuku-Toru.
He said: “It traverses at least nine communities along the way. We propose to complete this project in 15 months. In the process of construction we will be building about 12,777 meters of drains with a lot of soil replacement. Along the line we will be working on seven bridges which are in various stages of deterioration but we will rehabilitate them totally to give them a very good lifespan”.
On his part, the Amanyanabo of Abonnema, King Disreal Bob-Manuel thanked Governor Fubara for embarking on landmark projects in Kalabari Kingdom and for appointing Kalabari sons to work in his administration
The monarch appealed to the Governor to upgrade and recognize some ancient traditional stools in Kalabari Kingdom and also carry on shore protection in the area.
