Rivers State Government has signed contracts for the rehabilitation and upgrading of water supply for Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, urged the contractors to mobilise to site preparatory for the expected project flag-off on the 1st of October, 2020.
While advising the contractors handling the projects not to compromise the agreed standard and delivery time,The Governor said he will visiting to monitor progress and compliance.
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“Let me warn, in Rivers State, we do not compromise with quality of work viz-a-viz timely delivery of contracts.”I shall be visiting all project sites unannounced, to monitor progress and compliance with specification.
“The COVID-19 pandemic presented huge challenges, as the accruable revenues both to Federal Statutory Allocation and Internally Generated Revenue has dropped.
“The Commissioner of Water Resources and Rural Development and the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Water Corporation should engage AFDB with the view to get the Bank to finance 100 percent of the cost of the project net of taxes.
“I am aware that the loan closing date is April 2021. I am directing the commissioner and the managing director to submit application to the Federal Ministry of Finance and AFDB to extend the duration of the loan by two years to enable full implementation of all components of the urban water sector reform.
“They should further engage AFDB with a view of restoring the works at Trans-Amadi, Abuloma, Woji and Elelenwo regrettably cancelled by other Development Partners, ” he stated.
Governor Wike assured that he would not hesitate to fully implement the PHWC restructuring and organisational build-out report when it is ready.
He pointed out that his administration has opened a new phase of commitment to reposition water supply serviced across the state.
Governor Wike noted that through the project thousands of Rivers people would be engaged directly and indirectly throughout the life span of the project.
The project which will upgrade 496 kilometers of pipeline will produce 330,000 cubic meters of potable water per day and will create 1,200 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs.
According to the state Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja the project would have four new devices reservoirs located at Rumuola, Diobu, Moscow and Borikiri in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor,with eight elevated tanks with carrying capacity of about 1000 to 1500 cubic meters of water and about 17 boreholes in about six cluster areas connected to water treatment plants.
