Rivers government, three firms sign multi-billion naira water rehabilitation contracts

Rivers State Government has signed a multi billon naira contracts for the rehabilitation and upgrading of water supply infrastructure in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

The project, which would upgrade 496 kilometers of pipeline, would also produce 330,000 cubic meters of potable water per day for residents of the most populous local government councils of the state.

The Managing Director of Port Harcourt Water Corporation (PHWC), Mr. Ibibia Walter signed on behalf of the Rivers State Government, while Chen Kangle for CGC Nigeria Limited; Yang Gengqi, for Top International Engineering Corporation; and Iskandar Taslakian, signed for Mothercat Limited. 

Governor Nyesom Wike, advised the contractors not to compromise the agreed standard. He urged the contractors to mobilise to site preparatory for the expected project flag-off on October 1, 2020. The projects will create 1,200 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs.

“Let me warn, in Rivers State, we do not compromise with quality of work vis-à-vis timely delivery of contracts. I would be visiting all project sites unannounced, to monitor progress and compliance with specification. I am requesting the African Development Bank (AFDB) that will finance the project to do so with 100 per cent cost of net of taxes.

“The COVID-19 pandemic presented huge challenges, as the accruable revenues both to Federal Statutory Allocation and Internally Generated Revenue has dropped.

The Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development and the Managing Director, PHWC should engage AFDB with the view to get the bank to finance 100 percent of the cost of the project net of taxes.

“I am aware that the loan closing date is April 2021. I am directing the commissioner and the managing director to submit application to the Federal Ministry of Finance and AFDB to extend the duration of the loan by two years to enable full implementation of all components of the urban water sector reform.

“They should further engage AFDB with a view of restoring the works at Trans-Amadi, Abuloma, Woji and Elelenwo regrettably cancelled by other development partners, “ he said .

The governor gave assurance that he would not hesitate to fully implement the PHWC restructuring and organisational build-out report when it is ready. He pointed out that his administration has opened a new phase of commitment to reposition water supply services across the state.

Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja said the project would have four new reservoirs located at Rumuola, Diobu, Moscow and Borikiri in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor councils.

He explained that there would be eight elevated tanks with carrying capacity of about 1000 to 1500 cubic meters of water and about 17 boreholes in about six cluster areas connected to water treatment plants.

Walter said his team worked assiduously within eight months to secure the contractors trusted to execute the project.He thanked Governor Wike for his commitment to ensure that rural dwellers access potable water in the State.