November 11, 2025
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has frowned at the slow pace and substandard quality of work on the 14.5-kilometer Ndele–Omofo–Egamini–Agba-Ndele Road project located off the East–West Road in Emohua Local Government Area.
The Governor, during an inspection tour of the project on Tuesday, said that the performance of the contractor, Messrs Stream Co. & Equipment Limited, fell short of government expectations. He described the slow pace of work as unacceptable and hinted that a contract review was imminent.
“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,” Governor Fubara said.
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, the Governor inspected the stretch of the road and noted that his administration would not tolerate mediocrity or wastage of public funds on slow-paced and underperforming projects.
However, Governor Fubara commended Setraco Nigeria Limited for the speed and standard of work on the 240-meter Agba-Ndele/Abua Bridge, a major component of the project. He said the bridge, inherited from the previous administration, would significantly improve connectivity once completed.
The Governor explained that the bridge links several local government areas, including Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, and Emohua, and will provide a faster alternative route to the East–West Road.
“Where we are standing on is a bridge connecting Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, and Emohua Local Government Areas. The community connected to this bridge is Agba-Ndele. Instead of running through the East–West Road to Ahoada-East and heading into Port Harcourt, this bridge provides easy access for Abua/Odual people to cross into Emohua and reach the East–West Road in minutes,” the Governor said.
Governor Fubara expressed optimism that the bridge would be ready for use by early 2026, saying Setraco’s commitment contrasts sharply with the slow pace of the road contractor. He emphasized that projects of such magnitude must be handled by firms with the capacity to meet state standards.
He further stated that upon completion, the bridge would serve as an economic corridor for farmers and traders, especially those involved in agricultural production across the benefiting local government areas.
“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,” he added.
The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering people-oriented projects that promote connectivity, stimulate commerce, and enhance livelihoods across the state. He also announced that the deplorable Abua–Ahoada Road would be captured in the 2026 budget.
Governor Fubara concluded by reaffirming that his administration will continue to address slow pace and poor-quality work in state projects, ensuring that only contractors capable of delivering value remain partners in Rivers’ infrastructure development. Visit GMTNewsng for more news.
