Anita Ogona
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed the readiness of his administration to follow his course lawfully to the end concerning the festering political crisis in the state.
Governor Fubara disclosed this during the official inauguration of Emohua-Kalabari (Tema Junction) Road project in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state on Friday.
The project inauguration was performed by former Bayelsa State governor, now Senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Nelson Chukwudi, and sent to newsmen.
The governor said the Emohua-Kalabari road project was awarded on February 18, 2023, by the immediate past administration in the state at the cost of N21.2bn but only N6billion was paid.
Governor Fubara stated that his administration paid the remainder of N15.2bn and completed 70 per cent of the job to confidently claim it as part of his projects delivered for the good of the people in Kalabari land.
He said, “Although the Permanent Secretary did mention a few things, and I know that when we leave here, some agents will want to say one thing or the other. So, I came prepared. Let me also say here that maybe Julius Berger Nigeria PLC was economical with its presentation. On my table, as I am talking to you, there is a request for a variation of the cost of this project.
“This is because, as of the time this project was awarded, and while the project was ongoing, there were serious exchange rate differences. But I told them not to worry that they should go ahead and complete this project, and I assured them that we would sort them out and they accepted.
“For the record, this project was awarded on the 18th of February 2023, by the immediate past administration. In March, the first payment for the project was done, and the next one was in April, and the third one was in May.
“The total value of this project is N21.2 billion, and out of that, only N6 billion was what the previous administration committed.
“When we came on board, we said to the contractor, go ahead, assuring that we are not cutting it short because we know that the project is for the benefit of our people. I can boldly say here that the balance of N15.2 billion has been paid completely.
“So, for those of you that are mathematicians and even those of you who understand elementary statistics, you will understand that 70 per cent of this project was done by this administration. Therefore, we can boldly say that this project was delivered by this administration.”
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