Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday flagged off the N225.1billion Trans Kalabari Road project in Rivers State, saying that the road will enhance response time to security issues and promote economic growth.
Jonathan spoke at the flag-off of the construction of the 12.5km multi-billion Naira Trans-Kalabari Road project, at Nkpor-Aker Road Roundabout, Rumuolumeni community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He commended Governor Fubara for his vision, commitment and courage to take up the construction of such road that has numerous benefits of making movement easy.
He said, “When I was asked to come and flag-off this project, I felt that it is only a person who has vision, and the commitment to develop his people that can do this.
“Your Excellency, let me commend you for your vision and the courage to start this project. In fact, it is not going to be a tea party. If you must develop a nation, region or state, there are critical elements that count. These are good road network, airport, rail and water transport systems as well as security,” he said.
He said that by providing these enablers, development would thrive in the State, and thanked the Governor for daring to dream big, and venture into projects that previous administrations had avoided.
The former president emphasised that outgoing governors and incoming ones must know that they have to work together for the collective interest of the citizenry of their states, urging them to address their minds to the need for such mutual acceptance.
He added, “In this case of Rivers, Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara must work together for the development of the land and the people of Rivers State. The tension will not help us.
“Rivers State is very critical in this country. Rivers State is the heart of the Niger Delta. If Rivers State is destabilized, the whole Niger Delta will be destabilized, and it will not end within the Niger Delta alone because I am from this part of the country, and I know how the system works. We don’t want any crisis in Rivers State.”
Earlier, Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, assured that his administration was determined to deliver the Trans-Kalabari Road project to stimulate socio-economic activities in benefiting rural communities for overall development of the State.
The Governor advised the people to buy-in into the project and ensure that they ward-off any form of sabotage that may delay or frustrate timely completion of the project.
The Governor said he understands the difficult swampy terrain that the road will traverse, and the associated cost but has decided to embark on it, which signals the driving principle of his administration to put the wellbeing and advancement of the people first.
Governor Fubara maintained that there wass fund saved from the Internally Generated Revenue and federal allocations to fund the project to completion without borrowing, which is why 30 percent of the contract sum has already been paid to mobilise the contract to site in order to deliver on schedule.
He said, “When we went for campaign in the three local government areas of Kalabari Kingdom, we promised you that if you give us your votes and we succeed, we will embark on the Trans-Kalabari Road. And that is what we have come to do today. We are a government, when we make promise, we keep our promises.
“I understand the cost. I understand the difficult terrain and I also understand that somebody has to take this step. If it is not done by me, then another person can also do it. But within our time, it is proper for us to make a statement to our people.
“I don’t want to talk about politics on this project. I want us to look at the facts. It is a difficult terrain, it is going to be expensive, but we are equal to the task”, he said.
“Let me also say it for record purposes: We are not going to borrow to embark on this project. We have saved and we are using our savings to pay off the cost, which we have already done, the 30 percent initial advance payment. So, the contractor has no reason to delay, but to start off the project immediately.”
The Governor appealed to the people of Rumuolumeni to give the contractor the necessary support to enable them take off without much ado while also urging the Kalabari Kingdom to give the necessary support so that the project will be delivered without any sabotage.
In his description of the project, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Engr Atemea Briggs, said the 12.5KM road which will link Kalabari land by road to the metropolis, has four concrete bridges measuring 576meters, 288meters, 360meters and 108meters, separately.
He said, “The road commences from the Port Harcourt Ring Road at the Aker-Nkpor Road junction where we are currently seated, and extends through the swampy area behind Ignatius Ajuru University of Education.
“The road will include a series of bridge crossings, leading to Oguru-Ama, Bakana, Bukuma and Tombia. The first phase of the project is 12.5kilometer long, and it is expected to be completed within 32 months.
“The road features are 7.3meter carriage way, 2.5meter surface concrete shoulders and solar street lighting. It also consist 100 millimeter asphaltic to concrete surface scene, 150-millimeter crush granite base course and a 200 millimeter cement stabilizer sub-base.”
In his remarks, Managing Director of Lubrik Construction Company Limited, Engr Hadi Shihadi, said they have already mobilized to site, and are confident to deliver the project on schedule with the cooperation of host communities.
