Availabilibity of accessible roads remains one of the key indices in measuring the performance parameter of any government in Nigeria given the nexus between portable roads and economic development.
Unfortunately, only a few state governments have lived up to that billing while majority are struggling to make a noticeable impact. In respective of this, many governments are usually quick to point at the number of kilometres of roads they had purportedly constructed when in the true sense, the attraction in that is often times powered by the culture of using the undertaking as a conduit pipe for embezzlement.
However, of Nigeria’s 36 states, Rivers State in the present dispensation, has so far, presented a fresh thinking to the road construction narrative in Nigeria. It is not the usual Nigerian story that is empty and full of noise, as empirical evidence abound on how a promise made during the electioneering period across the 23 Local Government Areas in the state, is being honoured.
When Governor Nyesom Wike hit the ground running is every aspect of governance especially on road construction, the argument of critiques was that he on a sympathy seeking mission considering the case he had at the governorship election tribunal.
With a focus on urban renewal and zero potholes, the administration commenced its road revolution with Port Harcourt and adjoining urban areas because they are the places people see when they arrive in the state.
True to its pledge, within the first 100 days of his administration, the state witnessed the construction and rehabilitation of about 42 verifiable roads. This was to the amazement of residents, who were used to the habit of seeing their roads neglected by previous governments. Accordingly, the state became a huge construction site with the presence of construction giants like Julius Beger, CECEC and other construction companies that are engaged in fixing and construction of roads. This was noticeable in areas such as Diobu, Borokiri, Iwofe road, GRA, Akpajo, Eliopranwo, Tombia extension, Eagle Island and other key communities in the state capital.
It was indeed interesting to find contractors mobilised back to site early enough in the life of the administration in spite of the paucity of funds in the country.
This usage of Port Harcourt as the pilot scheme of the revolution on road resulted in the construction of 42 roads in his first 100 days in office. This was phenomenal in the history of state where most of its roads suffered neglect in the last dispensation, given what constrictors described as the penchant of the then administration for abandoning human interest projects.
Given the governor’s commitment to the widening of the state’s economic horizon, the pace of the road revolution continued leading to the attainment of the 120-kilometre mark since the administration came on board.
Interestingly, the urban renewal efforts have led to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of over 120 kilometers of roads in seven local government areas. They include Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Eleme, Etche, Oyigbo, and Akuku-Toru local government areas.
Residents of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor local government areas are appreciative of Wike’s urban roads renewal programme in the last one year. Amaechi, who had lived at Okarki Street (Mile 1), Chigbu Street (Mile 3 Diobu), and Anozie in Diobu and also stayed at Oro-Igwe road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area failed to construct the roads in these communities after serving as governor for eight years. Today, the roads in Diobu are wearing a new look with the economy properly refocused.
Some of the prominent roads are Abonnema/Obonnema Link Road/Bridge (commissioned), Eagle Island/Iloabuchi Road/Bridge (commissioned), Abuluoma-Woji Link Road/Bridge (commissioned), Oyigbo Market Road (commissioned), and Nkpogu-NLNG Road/Bridge (commissioned). Others are the reconstruction of 33 kilometers of township roads under Operation Zero Potholes (handled by Julius Berger and CCECC), reconstruction of Igwuruta-Chokocho road, and reconstruction of Eleme Junction to Onne Junction of the East-West Road, reconstruction of the Rumualogu/Alakahiah Road, and rehabilitation of the road under Mile 1 Bridge.
While these, may not represent all the efforts on road construction, as others abound, it will be important to state that Rivers is becoming a model of governance as a result of these. So obvious are the marks that even nonresidents in the state could attest to how Wike has gone in giving the state the value for their oil money. There have also been commendations on this from within and outside the state. Of course, praises can easily come from any quarter especially giving the culture of praise-singing in the polity but one of such which was from the Nigerian Guilds of Editors, speaks volumes about the developments in Rivers.
Having gone around the state during its annual conference held in Port Harcourt, the guild had this on the spot commendation: “We have toured parts of the state; we may not have gone everywhere but from what we have seen, the government is doing a lot in infrastructural development especially on roads rehabilitation and construction at a time the nation is going through economic difficulties. This is really commendable.
The guild capped the testimony thus: “I do not really get it when people talk about insecurity in Rivers State, this state is secure and peaceful for anybody to live in or do business. Besides, no part of the country can be said to be 100 percent secured.”
On the strength of this succinct observation and others, it gladdens the heart to say that the task of re-inventing Rivers which Wike has embarked on is real and would ensure verifiable development in the state.
– Spiff, a medical doctor, writes from Elele.
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