He stressed that though many people will be affected because many houses will be demolished but that the economic value when completed will easy transportation of people, goods, and services especially agricultural products from place to place since it will pass through some local government areas and it will help in alleviating traffic congestion and reduce travel times for commuters and freight transport. He said It will also improve connectivity within the state and will attract businesses, investors, and tourists, thereby leading to increase economic activity.

You would recall that on the 17th of July at the UTC junction where the road starts, the flag off took place, wherein Governor Fubara had stated that the Ring Road Project remains a giant project ever handled by any state government in the country, describing it as a bold effort taken in connecting Rivers people together and fostering unity among them.

Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons Living with Disability in Rivers State Kie Obomanu says he is satisfied with plans put in place by the government to make the ring road project accessible for people with special needs. Mr Kie Obomanu in an interview with our reporters said the government has agreed to make it disability friendly, where there would be rounds, and cross-sections for persons with disability. For instance, those in wheelchairs who want to cross. He said the project is a good one, revealing that according to the United Nations Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disability, they must ensure that there is accessibility at every point, either on the flyover or on the bridges to help persons living with disability.

The ring road as explained by the commissioner for works Dr. George Kelly Dakorinama Alabo is a 50.15 KM long with varied widths of between 29.2 M where there are several lanes, with total of six flyovers and one river crossing bridge. It has a completion time of 36 months with the contract sum of 195.3Billion Naira of which 75 percent had been paid.

The post Port Harcourt Ring Road Project, Giant Stride with Economic Value – Onyema A. first appeared on National Ambassador News.

Dr. Christian Otiadah further explained that they can not begin to repeat when, how, and where EIA must be done. He said if the government begins to disobey its laws, it will lose the moral impetus to enforce cooperate environmental compliance. Dr. Otiasah also spoke on the need to engage communities that will be affected by the construction of Port Harcourt Ring Road. He said internal climes have gone beyond using Environmental impact assessment (EIA) as the only project advisory, they have now included ecosystem services studies in addition to EIA as advisory. He said even as close as South Africa, they are doing that.

Meanwhile, the President of the Movement for the Development of Oyibo Ethnic Nationality, Victor Opute wants part of Oyibo to be included in the design of the Port Harcourt Ring Road, stating that it will tackle flooding in the area. He said it will be unfair for anyone to suggest that Oyibo Local Government Area should not be added in the Port Harcourt City Ring Road project that Rivers State Government is embarking on. Adding that Oyibo Local Government Area is a part of greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority Area and has contributed huge quota for the economic gains of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.

The post Environmentalist Urges RSG to Conduct EIA Before the Construction of PH Ring Road first appeared on National Ambassador News.