The management of the Niger Delta Development Commission has said the Borikiri-Okrika Road project it is undertaking will not conflict with the Ring Road being constructed by the Rivers State Government.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara while signing the agreement for the construction of the multibillion naira Port Harcourt Ring Road with Julius Berger said the road would traverse six local government areas of the state, including Okrika.
Fubara listed the other local governments as Eleme, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City, saying 77 per cent of the total contract sum of N195.3bn had been released to the contracting firm to commence the job.
Speaking at the commissioning, a former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike, described the NDDC as a cash cow for politicians as he called on the commission to take up a section of the road and complete it.
Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Port Harcourt on Friday, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, stated, “The value of that contract was about N16.7bn when it was awarded in 2012, but you must understand that between 2012 and now the value must have gone up. So, part of our discussion with the contractor and the consultant was for us to see the variation and the reviewed cost. But in spite of the variation, we are ready to move ahead.
“We are also in discussion with the state government to look at possible ways of partnership if they are open to partnership in completing that project so that we don’t have conflict on the project. For us in the NDDC, we are willing to start and complete the project.
“We have met with the contractor and the consultants and they have assured us that if the funds are made available, they can finish the project in two years. We have also committed ourselves that we are willing to finish the project in two years.”
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