The Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has disclosed that his predecessor, Nyesom Wike on completion of his tenure, left 34 uncompleted road projects worth over N225 billion which spread across 13 local government areas of the statet
Penpushing reports that Fubara disclosed this at a town hall meeting where he presented his scorecard to mark his one year in office, explaining that his administration has completed 12 out of the 34 road projects and has also awarded nine more road projects valued at over N534 billion
‘The facts and figures show that we inherited 34 uncompleted road projects worth over 225.279 billion naira spread across 13 local government areas of the state. We initiated the construction of nine new road projects of our own worth N534.332 billion,” he added.
“I wish to emphasise that with a combined cost of N528.6 billion, the 50.15 kilometres Port Harcourt dual-carriage Ring Road, the dualisation of Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road and the Trans-Kalabari Road projects are three most ambitious road projects ever carried out by any governor in Rivers State.”
Penpushing further reports that Fubara explained that of the amount, only the N195.3 billion 50.1kilometres Port Harcourt Ring Road project awarded to Julius Berger Plc was being funded from borrowed funds.
‘Others, including the most costly 12.1km all-swamp Trans-Kalabari Road awarded to Lubrik Construction Company Limited at N225 billion, are being funded from the state’s “much-improved” internally generated revenue which he said has jumped from N12 billion to N28 billion monthly’, he said.
Penpushing also reports that the Governor made reference to his face off with his predecessor, stating that he started the journey with a bang, and ready to make the change he promised with sense of urgency, lamenting that suddenly its administration found itself in the cesspit of crisis barely three months into office
‘We started this journey with a bang. We were focused. We were determined to make the change we promised with a sense of urgency. But then, somehow, we suddenly found ourselves in the cesspit of crisis barely three months into our tenure. It was not just an ordinary political crisis. It was a vicious existential crisis. The worst is over. We have successfully defended our right and opportunity to govern’.
Penpushing reports that Fubara listed his achievements across different sectors including education, health and security and the economy, stressing that he inherited a state whose economy had remained on a declining trajectory despite its growth potential, and needed to change the negative narrative for the better.
The Governor boasted that one year into his administration, the state’s internally generated revenue has witnessed an “astronomical increase” from N12 billion to between N17 billion in “off-peak periods and N28 billion during the peak months.”
Penpushing further reports that he said his administration’s commitment and strategies on safety and security are yielding results with lower crime rates in the state, stressing that his economic policies and programmes are attracting investors to the state based on the expression of interest he has received and that his administration has kept taxes low, frozen taxes on small businesses across the state and increased the ease of doing business by eliminating bureaucratic bottlenecks.
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