There have been reports making the rounds over alleged misappropriation of the facility by the state government.
Briefing the media, Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, stated that there exists no $56 million world bank facility for the road , stressing that that the allegation is the figment of imagination of some ignorant minds who do not know that the state government does not have direct access to a World Bank facility for the projects it is executing in the state.
He listed the projects being handled by NEWMAP to include Uratta and Umuagbai flood plains as well as reconstruction of Ngwa and Obohia roads has a-two-and-half-year completion timeline.
Kalu disclosed that the state government is solely funding the Port Harcourt Road project with tax payers’ money while the World Bank is funding the Ndiegoro erosion mediation project through a facility that will be repaid.
“There is absolutely no truth in the allegation of mismanagement of any $56m provided for Port Harcourt Road project as no such money exists for that purpose. The funds being used for World Bank projects in the state are released to contractors only after authorization by the Bank via a letter to the bank managing the project account.”
He noted that work was suspended on Port Harcourt road due to the Ndiegoro flood mediation project which intersected Port Harcourt Road from the Uratta axis being handled by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, (NEWMAP).
The Commissioner assured that works would soon re-commence on Port Harcourt Road, adding that the state government has devised alternative route to evacuate the heap of refuse which was obstructing the road at Crystal Park junction.
According to him, “The NEWMAP project site was handed over to the contractors on the 6th of June, 2020, with work actually commencing in January 2021 as a result of delays occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent EndSARS protests that followed in October 2020. The contractors, Heartland Nigeria and a UAE company which were expected to procure a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for the establishment of underground tunnels to deliver storm water to Waterside River could not meet up the deadline because of disruptions in international procurement systems during the pandemic, hence, the expected modifications in the design to ensure proper channeling of water through Uratta, Umuagbai, Ngwa and Obohia roads.”
He warned opposition parties and rumour mongers to stop misleading the public with false information as such activities have negative impacts on the actualization of the projects.
The Commissioner further assured that work would also recommence on Faulks road as the project has not been completed, adding that palliative measures will start on the road to ease traffic.
