The Rivers State Executive Council, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the contract for the Trans-Kalabari Road project, with a substantial budget of N222.1 billion.
This decision was reached during its meeting at the Government House on Wednesday, attended by members of the Council, including Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu.
Speaking to journalists post-meeting, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joseph Johnson, highlighted that the project’s funding will be drawn from the state’s internally generated revenue.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, Johnson emphasized that 30 percent of the mobilization fee has already been disbursed, and the project, slated for completion in 32 months, is set to commence promptly, with the contractor ready to deploy resources and manpower to the site.
Johnson said, “We have awarded the contract to the tune of N222,114,563,830.2 kobo only for the commencement of the Trans-Kalabari Road.
“This is the main Trans-Kalabari Road. The one that had happened in the past, was building of bridges.
“But here, we are doing a Trans-Kalabari Road that is going to run from NSS Pathfinder immediately after Mgbuodohia Community, and extends to about 2 KM to the Aker Base Road in Rumuolumeni Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He added, “That road will pass through the swamps behind the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rumuolumeni, moving southwards towards the first bridge crossing. The road continues through a series of bridges. That road will run, connecting many communities up to Tombia Town.
“That project will be completed in 32 months, and we are paying from our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). We are not going to be borrowing money for that project.
“That is about the third phase of us generating funds internally for our road projects without going anywhere to borrow money.”
The Information Commissioner stated that the contractual sum of N222.1billion is bigger than what is being spent on the Port Harcourt Ring Road project, which is ongoing, citing the very difficult terrain of swamp the and across rivers the Trans-Kalabari Road is traversing, upon which a series of bridges, decking and piling works will be executed.