Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed that his administration will ensure Rivers people get full value for money spent on public projects, insisting that he will not tolerate poor performance from contractors.
Governor Fubara made the remark on Tuesday during an inspection of the 14.5-kilometre Ndele-Omofo-Egamini-Agba-Ndele Road project, connecting Emohua, Ahoada East and Abu/Odual Local Government Areas.
Demonstrating his determination to personally assess the work, the Governor defied the difficult terrain, trekking a long distance before continuing in a vehicle to reach the 240-metre Agba-Ndele/Abua Bridge section of the project in Emohua Local Government Area.
Visibly displeased with what he saw on the road, Governor Fubara expressed disappointment at the slow pace and poor quality of work being executed by the contracting firm, Messrs Stream Co. & Equipment Limited.
He hinted at a possible review of the contract to ensure the delivery of quality work to the people.
“I can say here already that the contractor handling the road from the bridge to the East–West Road is not doing a good job. I’m not happy about it. When I get back, there will be a need to review that contract because I’m not impressed. They don’t have the capacity, and we need capacity because we must have value for whatever money we’re spending,” the Governor said.
In contrast, the Governor commended Setraco Nigeria Limited for the impressive pace and standard of work on the 240-metre Agba-Ndele/Abua Bridge, which he described as a vital component of the road project.
He explained that the bridge, which his administration inherited, would significantly improve connectivity among communities in Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, and Emohua Local Government Areas once completed.
“Where we are standing on is a bridge connecting Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, and Emohua Local Government Areas. The community that is connected to this bridge is Agba-Ndele. Instead of running through the East–West Road to Ahoada-East and heading into Port Harcourt or out of it, this bridge provides easy access for the Abua/Odual people to cross into Emohua, Agba-Ndele, and access the East–West Road in minutes,” he explained.
Governor Fubara expressed confidence that the bridge would be ready for use by early 2026.
He said the project underscores his administration’s focus on rural connectivity and inter-community access, which are central to his development vision for Rivers State.
According to him, the bridge will open up the corridor for agricultural trade and ease the movement of goods and people between rural communities and the city.
“I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen on the bridge. I’m very sure that before the end of January, it might be completely ready for us to walk through and even drive across,” he said.
The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to people-oriented projects that promote connectivity, commerce, and improved livelihoods across the state, noting that his development plan prioritizes balanced growth and inclusion.
He also disclosed plans to include the rehabilitation of the Abua/Ahoada Road in the 2026 state budget, as part of efforts to open up more communities and sustain economic integration.
“Our vision is to connect the entire Rivers State together, especially communities that have challenges of access. The bridge here connects Abua/Odual and Ahoada-East to Emohua and Port Harcourt. It will ease movement, promote trade, and boost our economy because agriculture is strong on this side. Moving goods to the city won’t be a problem anymore,” he added.
Governor Fubara reiterated that his administration will continue to monitor ongoing projects closely to ensure that only contractors with proven capacity handle government jobs, guaranteeing quality delivery and value for money.
