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The Rivers State Government has signed contracts for the rehabilitation and upgrading of water supply for Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.

It is expected that when executed, the projects will upgrade 496 kilometres of pipeline and will produce 330,000 cubic meters of potable water per day.

Also, the move is expected to create 1,200 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs.

Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, state governor, Nyesom Wike, advised the  contractors handling the projects not to compromise on the agreed standard.

He urged the contractors to mobilise to site preparatory for the expected project flag-off on the 1st of October, 2020 saying; “Let me warn, in Rivers State, we do not compromise with quality of work viz-a-viz timely delivery of contracts.

“I shall 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 of Water Resources and Rural Development and the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Water Corporation should engage AFDB with the view to get the Bank to finance 100 per cent 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 an 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”, Governor Wike said.

The Governor, then, noted that through the project thousands of Rivers people would be engaged directly and indirectly throughout the life span of the project.

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

The Commissioner said 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.

The Managing Director of Port Harcourt Water Corporation, Chief Ibibia Walter, said his team worked assiduously within eight months to secure the contractors trusted to execute the project.

Speaking for CGC Nigeria limited, Chen Kangle who expressed gratitude to the governor for the trust in his company to handle the projects, assured of timely delivery.

Yang Gengqi who spoke for the Top International Engineering Corporation said they have been in Nigeria since 2017 and are confident to deliver a quality project.

For Mothercat Limited, Iskandar Taslakian pledged to engage indigenous workers on their sites.

Chief Ibibia Walter signed on behalf of the Rivers Government; Chen Kangle for CGC Nigeria limited; Yang Gengqi for Top International Engineering Corporation; and Iskandar Taslakian signed for Mothercat Limited.