By Akanimo Sampson
Construction-driven Wike administration in Rivers State has sealed a N27.6 billion road construction deal with Chinese Civil and Engineering Construction Corporation. The deal is for the construction of Trans-Kalabari and Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road projects.
These two major road projects are expected to be completed within the next 14 months.
Works Commissioner, Elloka Tasie-Amadi, said the Trans-Kalabari Road will be 13.599 kilometers long and will be executed by Lubrik Construction Company.
He explained that the road will connect several communities, among them Krakama, Omekwe-ama, Angula-ama, Mina-ama and some other communities in the Kalabari area of the state.
“The project will cost N13.6 billion and will have 14 months duration, financed by irrevocable standing payment order drawn against the State Internal Revenue, meaning that every month the contractor will be paid N1 billon and there will be no delays.
“This will guarantee the project is not stalled and completed within the time frame stipulated and agreed with the State government. This I believe will be useful to the people in the area and ease their transport.”
Tasie-Amadi said that the State Executive Council that was presided by Governor Nyesom Wike on Wednesday also approved the construction of the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Phase 2 road project which starts from Bori to Kono.
“It is a 17 kilometer road and the cost of the project is N14 Billion. Construction time is 14 months. Payment will also be secured by an irrevocable payment standing order of N1 billion monthly drawn against the state Internal Revenue.”
According to the commissioner, the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono contract will be executed by the same the company that executed its Phase 1, Chinese Civil and Engineering Construction Corporation, pointing out that the reason why the cost of the Trans-Kalabari road which is 13 kilometers long and 9.3 meters wide is almost the same as that of Bori- Kono 17.1 kilometers and 24 meters wide road with street light, is because the terrains are different.
“The cost of building in the riverine area is nothing less than twice the cost of building on solid soil. So the government is going through huge trouble to see that these roads are built. People will wonder why the costs are like that, the terrain determines the cost. So, the Trans-Kalabari road is far more expensive to build.”
Information and Communications Commissioners, Paulinus Nsirim, said the award of the Trans-Kalabari road by the Governor Wike administration is historic.
He explained previous government had awarded the Trans-Kalabari road to indigenes of the area who later abandoned the project for inexplicable reason.
Nsirim said the Wike administration is not only desirous that the project kicks off, but that it is completed as scheduled. “With the kind of payment plan, this project will not be abandoned, but completed.”
Continuing, he said the two major road projects which are located outside the city centre is a further testimony that Governor Wike has remained steadfast in spreading development to every nooks and crannies of the state.
