Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, has praised Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike for delivering outstanding projects to the people.
Abubakar, who spoke while commissioning the Garrison-Trans-Amadi-Slaughter-Woji-Elelenwo road, last Friday, said the reconstruction of the road, which leads to the economic nerve centre of Rivers State, was a major contribution to the growth of the state.
The former head of state called for sustained maintenance of the road, adding that people must pay their taxes for more roads to be constructed.
In his address, Wike said that he would always use Rivers resources to develop world-class infrastructure for the state.
He said though the Garrison-Trans-Amadi-Slaughter-Woji-Elelenwo Road was awarded by the Amaechi administration, it was abandoned at less than 30 per cent completion. The governor added that his administration retained the same contractor, till the road was delivered.
“This road traverses Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas. When we came on board, RCC left the site because the road was not funded. Our administration paid over N17 billion to complete this project.
“This road is very key to the development of the state. Trans-Amadi is an industrial hub. The poor state of the road drove companies away. But now most companies are back. The roundabouts have changed the landscape,” he said.
He directed the construction of a flyover from Government Vocational Centre to Saint John’s on Aba road.
The governor added that projects that would impact on the lives of the people would be completed by the administration.
The state Commissioner for Works, Dum Dekor, said the road would enhance the development of the area, while Caretaker Committee Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Prince Amadi Oparaeli, thanked the governor for delivering the road project.
Representative of RCC, Nabel Esawi, thanked the Rivers State government for funding the road to completion.
With majestic streetlights, modern traffic lights and excellent dual carriageway in full splendour of the night, the Rivers State government last Friday unveiled the 8.4 kilometres Garrison-Trans-Amadi-Slaughter-Woji-Elelenwo road.
Fitted with 16 telecommunication ducts on the two sides of the dual carriageway, the road has six bridges and seven exquisitely designed roundabouts with delicately placed walkways and gardens.
It was awarded by the immediate past administration of former governor Rotimi Chubuike Amaechi in 2009 but was abandoned due to the inability of that administration to fund it.