Fubara hints on reviewing cost of PH Ring Road project

From Chris Eze, Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has hintsd that the cost of Port Harcourt Ring Road may be reviewed in line with current realities.
At the signing of the contract last year between the Rivers State Government and Julius Berger Nig. Plc, the cost of the project was estimated at N195 billion.
Inspecting the progress of work on the project on Wednesday, Governor Fubara  said the prices of things when the project was signed and what they are at present are no longer the same.
The Governor said said so much money has been expended on the project, with the driving objective of making sure that it is delivered to Rivers people.
“I think that we are good, considering the understanding that we had with Julius Berger Nigeria PLC.
“We signed off that in 36 months, this project will be done and delivered, and with what we are seeing, we are meeting up that target.
“I think that we have a few issues; the price rate of things at that time we signed the contract and what subsist presently is no longer the same.
“But whatever it is, I have assured them that we are going to provide the necessary support to make sure that we deliver this project.
Governor Fubara also stated: “You know this project is very important to us. It is one of the first things that I signed off when I came in as the Governor of this State.
“It is a signature infrastructure project for me, whichever way anybody wants to look at it. We signed on for it. We are paying dearly for it, and it’s one of the objectives of this Administration to make sure that we deliver it to our people,” he added.
The governor rode the stretch of the road from off the Obiri-Ikwerre-Airport Road axis, through the Jesuit Memorial School to Elikpokwuodu Community, then to Rumuosi and Ozuoba communities before terminating the inspection tour at UTC Junction.
The inspection tour traversed through three local government areas of the state – Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dr. Lars Richter, who conducted the Governor round the project site, said work has advanced after piling and laying of beams on the first flyover, which started on January 15, 2024, and accomplished two months after.
 Richter, who explained that while they have intensified work on the second flyover with beams ready to be laid, significant strides have been achieved in laying out the road and the drains for accelerated construction.
He assured that the project will be delivered on schedule, and within specifications.