Rivers govt awards N30bn Kalabari Road to J’Berger

The Executive Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has awarded the 19.7 km Kalabari Road Project to Julius Berger at the cost of N30 bn.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, held recently in Port Harcourt, Fubara revealed that amid the seized revenue allocations of the state, his government has continued to initiate new projects and mobilising contractors to sites.

He said, “This project is a 19.7 km long road. It is awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Limited at the cost of N30.4bn. We have already paid 30 percent of this project cost, even at the hit of our trouble when our allocation was withheld. We paid N9.1bn for you to understand how we feel and how we value the Kalabari people. The contractor has assured us it will do a good job, and I believe that before the 15 months are over, life will be different here.

“Issues of criminality along the bad section of the road will be a thing of the past, and maybe other development will also come into your kingdom,” he added.

Meanwhile, Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dr. Peer Lubasch, said the company has always shared commitment with the government and people of Rivers State, stating emphatically that it has to do with reference to the progress and development of the state.

He said, “We are deeply grateful for your unwavering support and the privilege to contribute to improving your administration’s ambitious developmental initiatives, which continue to improve the lives of the good people of Rivers State, adding that this event marks another milestone in our shared commitment to progress and development.

“Julius Berger has built a reputation for excellence and reliability in delivering high-quality projects on schedule across the country, and Rivers State is included. We assure you that this project will uphold the same exceptional standards Julius Berger has come to be known for.

“The significant project was awarded to Julius Berger in August with a completion period of 15 months. The project, which is worth N30.4 bn, will connect nine separate communities in the Asari-Toru, Degema, and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas in the Kalabari Kingdom.”

On the importance of the road, Fubara said the recurring issues of criminality along the bad section of the road will be a thing of the past, and maybe other development will also come into your kingdom, even as he called for the cooperation of the communities with Julius Berger for a quality and timely delivery.

The former Attorney-General of Nigeria, Odein Ajumogobia, who performed the flagging-off ceremony, said Julius Berger was the right company for the job given the bad state of the road.

He said, “My father used to tell me as a boy how he used to see huge ships coming to the Abonema Ports. So, transportation and connectivity were at the heart of development. But generations of neglect have brought us to this point. And it is you, Your Excellency, who is restarting the process of development to bring us to where we should be. And we thank Julius Berger for its commitment and assurance to do a good job for us.”