• Ratifies PPP arrangements for Cancer Centre, Mother and Child Hospital
From Tony John Port Harcourt
Rivers State Executive Council has approved N70.25 billion as total contracts sum for the construction and dualisation of two critical road projects that will further connect rural communities and ease movement onward to the state capital.
The approval was made during a meeting at Government House, Port Harcourt, which was presided over by Governor Nyesom Wike, yesterday.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, George-Kelly Alabo, said the contract approval was made for the reconstructions and dualization of the Emohua-Abalama-Tema junction road, and extension of dualization of the Ahoada to Omoku Road.
“The executive council ratified the contracts award for the reconstruction and dualization of the Emohua to Abalama to Tema junction road. This road is 15.24 kilometres long and will be a dual carriageway with streetlights and estimated to cost N21.26 billion.
“In the same vein, the council also ratified the award of the extension of the dualization of the Ahoada to Omoku road from Ogbo-Ukordu road junction to Omoku and that is going to cost N48.998 billion.
“This is a 25.4 Kilometre dual carriageway with 7.6 meters lane on each lane and also with streetlights. Both projects will be taken simultaneously, meaning they will run concurrently.”
The commissioner said the contracts were awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and has 18 months to complete the job.
“Both projects are estimated at N70.25 billion and the payment structure will be such that it will be tied to the IGR through an irrevocable standing payment order.
“So, an irrevocable standing payment order of N4 billion will be made for 18 months. In 17 months, N68 billion would have been paid and by the 18 months, the balance of N2.285 billion will be paid.”
Alabo also said the state government is looking at the possibility of extending the Emohua-Abalama-Tema road to Ogbakiri community.
According to him, already the feasibility study is ongoing between his ministry and Julius Berger Nigeria PLC and are determined to bring the likely cost implication before the executive council of the state government.
On his part, Commissioner for Health, Princewill Chike, said council also ratified the Public, Private Partnership arrangements that were secured for an effective management of the radiotherapy unit of the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, and the Mother and Child Hospital in Port Harcourt.
“At this council meeting of today, February 12, the ratification was given for both facilities; the Mother and Child Hospital, to be managed by the Global Health Managers and a conglomerate of other companies, as well as the Dr. Peter Odili Cancer and Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Centre.”
Also briefing journalists after the meeting, Commissioner for Education, Chinedu Mmom, said council gave approval for the procurement of 1,442,000 textbooks, classics, and encyclopaedia that will be distributed to all the public primary, nursery, junior secondary and senior secondary schools in the states free of charge.
Mmom said the council approved the requests by the Chief of Naval Staff and has ceded to the Nigerian Navy the Nne Kurubo Model Secondary School, Ebubu in Eleme Local Government Area for use as Naval Training School that was in Onne
Also approved for the Nigerian Navy is the Government Model Secondary School, Egberu, Ndoki in Oyigbo that will be used as Naval Headquarters Training Command.
“The school was abandoned by the previous administration and has become a breeding ground for criminals and other miscreants. So, the request presented by the chief of naval staff as being granted today will reduce criminal activities in this area.”