Governor Nyesom Wike
While the Wike administration of Rivers State may have succeeded in improving the aesthetics of the state capital, a recent disclosure of plans for two additional flyover bridges in Port Harcourt appears not to be going down well with the people of the oil rich state.
The argument is that the governor has subsumed development under road construction, whereas there are many developmental challenges confronting the state.
“The governor seems to be playing with the needs of the people. There is serious unemployment, environmental challenges like kpofire and soot, crime is on the increase and women and girls are no longer safe. He is not addressing these majorly interested in building flyovers, only responding to violence with lockdowns.
“Human development must go hand in hand with infrastructural development. He should address projects that will touch lives, create employment and re-invigorate economic activities fast dwindling. Without a buoyant economy of what use would numerous bridges be except to be admired?” a retired and yet be paid civil servant noted.
Others advised the state legislators to rise above their pocket needs and help the governor regain focus by addressing the real needs of the people.
The Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike had recently disclosed that the state government will construct the 7th flyover in Port Harcourt to traverse Ikokwu to Azikiwe Street.
He appealed to residents of Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas to bear with the State government for traffic challenges that they may encounter in connection with the ongoing construction of the Oro-Abali and other flyovers.
In a press release signed by Kelvin Ebiri, special assistant (Media) to the governor, the governor stated: “As you know our promise to construct and five flyovers to ease the perennial traffic challenges and accelerate socio-economic development of the State is well on course. we delivered and commissioned the first of the initial five flyovers, (the Rebisi flyover) to the glory of God and the good of our State, while construction work on the rest has reached advanced levels of completion.
“Indeed, the Okoro-nu-do flyover is next on the line to be delivered and commissioned, latest, in the first quarter of 2021.
Two days ago, the State Executive Council approved the award of the contract for the constructing of the sixth flyover along the Oro-Abali (Kaduna street) intersection of Aba road to Julius Berger Nigeria Limited.”
Governor Nyesom Wike
