Eleme Local Government Council has announced plans to commence the formal naming of streets across several kilometres of road network recently developed through the initiative of King Appolus Chu, Oneh-Eh Nchia and Egbere Emere Okori.
The Chairman of Eleme LGA, Chief Obarilomate Ollor, made the disclosure during an inspection of the newly opened roads alongside traditional rulers and other dignitaries.
Speaking with journalists, Chief Ollor praised King Chu for what he described as a visionary intervention aimed at transforming Eleme into a well-structured urban centre.
He noted that as a host to major multinational companies, Eleme is fast emerging as an investment destination and requires deliberate infrastructure planning to sustain its growth.
According to the Chairman, road and street naming is a statutory responsibility of the Local Government, assuring residents that the administration would ensure proper documentation, mapping and official recognition of all newly created routes.
Also addressing the gathering, the Special Guest of Honour, the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Yahaya Abubakar, commended King Chu for his contributions to national development, particularly in agriculture, scholarships, grants and human capital development. He expressed satisfaction with the scale and quality of the road projects and urged government authorities to complement the initiative to maximize its impact.
The Oneh-eh Eleme, Dr. Philip Osaro Obele, described Eleme as one of Nigeria’s economic hubs but decried years of infrastructural neglect, especially in road development. He said the new road network would improve access to farmlands, enhance rural security and accelerate urbanisation within the local government area.
Responding, King Appolus Chu, Emere Nchia and Egbere Emere Okori Eleme, said the project was conceived to strategically position Eleme for coordinated urban expansion, increased investment inflow and the protection of its coastal boundaries and agricultural lands. He observed that as congestion intensifies in Port Harcourt, development pressure is gradually shifting toward Eleme, making proactive planning essential to avoid unregulated growth.
Former Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, also called on the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Regional Development, to undertake full construction of the roads, noting that preliminary costs such as survey, alignment, compensation and earthworks had already been borne by King Chu.
Dignitaries at the event included Hon. Igwe Aforji, member representing Eleme Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly; Mr. Mesh Maichibi, Vice President (Production), Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited; and HRM King Air Commodore T.E.O. Ogube (Rtd), Perekune Kingoli I and Supreme Monarch of Kirike Kingdom, among others.
