Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has expressed his satisfaction with the progress of work on the ongoing Port Harcourt Ring Road project assuring the people that in 36 months the project which he described as a Signature project of his administration will be delivered.
He spoke at the end of his inspection visit to the project site to assess the extent of work that has been achieved just as the Managing Director of Nigeria’s foremost engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr. Dr. Lars Richter revealed that appreciable progress has been made on the project and that the company will meet agreed completion deadline.
Speaking to news men at the end of the inspection, Governor Fubara explained that the contract for the Port Harcourt Ring Road project was the first of such agreement that he signed with the driving objective of making sure that it is delivered to Rivers people. The Governor whose convoy drove on the stretch of the road from Airport road access through Jesuit Memorial School down to Rumuosi and Uzoba Communities before terminating the inspection tour at UTC junction said, “I think we are good considering the understanding that we have with Julius Berger.”
Gov Fubara continued: “We signed off that in 36 months this project will be done and delivered, and with what we are seeing here today, they are meeting up with that target. I am satisfied. Although we have few issues. The price rate at that time and current one is not the same. However, whatever it is, I have assured them that we will give them all the necessary support to make sure that they deliver. You know this project is very important to us; it’s one of the first projects that I signed off when I came in as Governor of this State. Whichever way anybody wants to look at it, for me, it is a signature project. We signed up for it and we are paying dearly for it. Also, it is one of the objectives of this administration to make sure that we deliver it to our people. Thank you.”
In his remarks the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr. Dr. Lars Richter, who conducted the Governor round the project site said work has advanced after piling and laying of beams on the first flyover, which started on January 15, 2024, and accomplished two months after.
Richter who explained that why they have intensified work on the second Flyover with beams ready to be laid, significant strides have been achieved in laying down the road and the drains for accelerated construction.
“As we drove along the project route, we saw several spots where we are working; on the road construction and even on the two flyovers. Just after the Easter break we will start the laying of the first beams of one of the flyovers, on the other flyover we will finish drilling,” Richter said.
He continued; “We are using two drilling rigs to complete the piling; and then we are moving to the third flyover already. So you can see the fist flyover we started on the 15th of January, two months later, we are already laying the beam. So we are on track; we are on schedule as we promised his Excellency. I am really satisfied with the work, and with my team of course. And also, I am very satisfied with his Excellency for his support and the fact that we had the opportunity today to inspect together and to discuss the challenges for example compensation, allocation. He assured me that everything will be done as soon as possible and that he will assist us to meet our timeline. All I can say is that I am really happy and satisfied with the work done here.”
All along the route of the inspection visit ecstatic residents of communities on the project corridor hailed and sang praises of the Governor and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc shouting, “na good collabo“ which means the collaboration between the Governor and the company is for the good of all.
On Julius Berger’s Team at the working visit were; Managing Director, Engr. Dr. Lars Richter, Technical Assistant to the Managing Director, Engr Benjamin Bott; Project Manager, Engr Finn Drosdowski, Operations Manager, Engr Ulrich Stahl, Region South East Project Coordinator, Chief Sam Ngbor and Deputy Regional Manager, Region South East, Engr. Rimon Marisho.
