The
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has assured that the poor federal allocation
and internal revenue profile of the state will not deter his administration
from executing people-oriented projects.
Speaking
while flagging-off the construction of Iguwruta-Chokocho Road on Tuesday, at
the boundary between Igwuruta and Etche, Wike decried the dwindling revenue and
federal allocation, which he said has dropped to N5billion monthly.
He
said, “the low revenue profile does not matter. Whether we get N1billion or
N2billion, we have to continue to solve the problems of our people.”
The
governor while decrying the plight of the road abandoned by the immediate past
administration, said he had promised during his electoral campaigns to revamp
the route even though it is a federal road.
Wike
noted that government will not allow the people to continue suffering while
waiting for Federal Government’s intervention, and therefore, urged the
contractor, Setraco Nigeria Limited, to deliver the project in six months’
time.
As
part of measures to fast-track the project, the governor announced that money
will be directly deducted from the state’s internally generated revenue to pay
the construction firm.
Calling
on the communities to help secure the project, Wike enjoined the contractor to
also engage them as part of local content to avert delays and hiccups.
Earlier,
Commissioner for Works, Engr Kelvin Wachuku, had said the project falls into
one of the short term visions of the governor to connect all parts of the
state.
As
a federal road, Wachuku disclosed that the route links Ngor Okpala in Imo
State, further stating that the road covers over six kilometers with a
two-metre median and side drains linking Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government
Area and Chokocho in Etche Local Government Area.
The
commissioner further stated that in line with laid down standards of the
present administration, the project is expected to last for one year at the
cost of N2.3 billion, as he charged the contractor to utilize the dry season
and complete the project in due time.
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