Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, will from Monday commence the commissioning of 10 major projects spread across different parts of the state, in what the administration described as another step towards taking development closer to the people.
The commissioning exercise is expected to continue until August 31 and will cover major infrastructure projects in several local government areas.
The projects cut across road construction, bridges, healthcare, education and other facilities considered important to the social and economic development of the state.
The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, disclosed the plan on Friday during a media briefing in Port Harcourt, where he provided details of the projects and the schedule for the commissioning activities.
Wokoma said the projects were not merely government structures but represented practical interventions aimed at addressing some of the challenges confronting residents and communities across Rivers State.
He explained that the administration was focused on ensuring that public spending resulted in projects that residents could see, use and benefit from, particularly at the grassroots level.
The first project to be commissioned will be the Buguma-Degema-Abonnema Road, which connects communities across Asari-Toru, Degema and Akuku-Toru Local Government Areas.
The road is expected to improve movement between the affected communities while providing residents with better access to neighbouring areas and economic opportunities.
Other projects scheduled for commissioning include the Egwi-Afara-Mba Road in Etche Local Government Area and the Omademe Internal Roads in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The newly completed Air Force Base Runway in Port Harcourt is also among the projects listed for the exercise.
Another major infrastructure project on the schedule is the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Dual Carriageway. The road stretches through Ikwerre, Emohua and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas and is expected to strengthen connectivity across the communities along its route.
In the education and skills development sector, the Capt. Elechi Amadi Polytechnic Entrepreneurship Centre and Engineering Faculty Building at Rumuola, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, will also be commissioned.
The facilities are expected to provide additional infrastructure for students and support technical and entrepreneurial training within the institution.
Healthcare infrastructure also features prominently in the commissioning programme.
Wokoma listed the New Zonal Hospital in Omoku, located in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, among the projects ready for commissioning.
The Neuro Psychiatric Hospital and the New General Hospital in Rumuigbo, both situated in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, are also part of the projects to be formally unveiled.
The inclusion of the health facilities is expected to strengthen access to medical services in communities where residents have previously had to travel longer distances to obtain specialised or general healthcare.
According to the SSG, the projects reflect Governor Fubara’s determination to ensure that development is not concentrated in only a few areas of the state.
He maintained that the administration’s investment in infrastructure was aimed at improving the quality of life of residents and creating an environment where communities could experience direct benefits from government policies.
“These projects scheduled for commissioning are tangible evidence of His Excellency’s unwavering dedication to transform our communities and address the developmental needs of our people,” Wokoma said.
He further stated that the projects demonstrated the government’s commitment to making governance more impactful and ensuring that its policies produced results that residents could identify with.
The SSG said the administration was particularly concerned about ensuring that government interventions translated into “meaningful and measurable benefits for every citizen across the 23 Local Government Areas of the State.”
The commissioning programme will eventually move to Bonny Local Government Area, where the Bonny National Grammar School is scheduled to be commissioned on August 31.
The school project will bring the 11-day commissioning programme to an end, marking the completion of a series of infrastructure projects across different sectors and geographical areas of the state.
Wokoma also recognised the role played by contractors, government officials, host communities and other stakeholders in ensuring that the projects were completed.
He noted that the successful delivery of major public infrastructure requires cooperation among government institutions, construction companies, communities and other relevant stakeholders.
The SSG therefore urged residents across Rivers State to participate actively in the commissioning activities and support efforts aimed at sustaining peace and development in the state.
He appealed to Rivers people to see the projects as collective achievements and continue to support initiatives designed to improve infrastructure and create better opportunities for residents.
“We invite all Rivers people to join in celebrating these milestones and to continue supporting the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara as it advances peace, development, progress, and prosperity,” Wokoma said.
He added that the administration remained committed to building a state where infrastructure and other development projects would reach communities across the 23 local government areas.
“Together, we will continue to build a Rivers State where development reaches every community and every citizen has the opportunity to thrive,” he added.
The planned commissioning comes as the Rivers State Government continues to highlight infrastructure development as a major component of its administration’s agenda, with attention focused on projects expected to improve transportation, healthcare, education and other essential public services.
For communities where the projects are located, the commissioning exercise is expected to formally open a new phase in the use of the facilities and provide residents with an opportunity to assess the direct impact of the government’s investments on their daily lives.
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