Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has promised to compensate communities that would be affected as a result of the construction of the Port Harcourt ring road project.
The road which has been described as a legacy project by the current administration is expected to traverse six local government areas of the state.
Fubara said the inherent individual differences occasioned by the diverse ethnic groupings notwithstanding, the Port Harcourt Ring Road will serve as a bold effort taken in connecting Rivers people together and fostering greater unity among them.
Governor Fubara stated this at the UTC Junction in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, the venue of the flag-off of the Ring Road project in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He noted that other previous administrations have attempted to execute the project, but could not, and commended his predecessor, Nyesom Wike for initiating the New Rivers vision that is serving as the building template for the radical development of the State as being consolidated by his administration.
He stated, “Today, we are here to put mortar to brick to that contract signing. Some of you had doubts when we signed the contract whether we will start it.
“But we did not just sign it, we have paid for it and we are here to commence the job. The importance of this road is not just connecting Eleme to Etche, Etche to Ikwerre local government areas but connecting our people.”
Fubara, who stressed that there is no meaningful development without road accessibility, urged the various communities that the project will traverse to cooperate with the contractor without sabotaging it. He assured them of timely payment of determined compensations.
Immediate past governor of Rivers State, Wike, who performed the flag-off, recalled how the administration he served as Chief-of-Staff, (making a veiled reference to the Rotimi Amaechi administration) had set money aside but could not muster the political will to do the job.
He lauded Fubara for commencing the Port Harcourt Ring Road project barely weeks after assuming office, adding that such bold initiative shows leadership, describing him as a man of few words but with the utmost capacity to deliver great development to the people of Rivers State.
On his part, the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr. George-Kelly Alabo explained that the Port Harcourt Ring Road project is 50.15km long and has varied widths of between 7.6m and 29.2m where there are service lanes with 6 flyovers and one river crossing bridge.
