Another N3bn contract scandal hits Rivers state governor

Even as the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, tries to close the chapter on several allegation of financial embarrassment, another appears to be following close behind.

The governor has been accused of stopping construction activities at all work sites in the State, following general outcry by concerned citizens and organisations especially those that operate from the Eleme/Onne axis

One of the most visible projects that have now been abandoned by the governor, the state's APC alleged in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Chris Finebone, was the Eleme Junction–Trailer Park Junction interval of the East/West Road.

"Beyond the governor reneging on his promise to provide counterpart funding for the project, the job so far done is far from the over N3billion contributed by companies located in the area. If this is not 419, only God Almighty knows what 419 is.

"For the records, the following amounts were contributed by companies located in the Eleme/Onne axis: Intel Services N1billion, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Ltd N500million, Port Harcourt Refinery [NNPC] N300million, and Nigerian Ports Authority [NPA] N250million, among others.

The rehabilitation of this road according to the APC, was touted as the best thing to come out of the Wike government; taxpaying companies were made to contribute over N3billion or slightly less than half of the N7billion required for full reconstruction of that section of the East/West Road.

The APC noted that despite those companies tasking themselves to make the contributions, Governor Nyesom Wike has not only refused to provide government's portion of the N7billion required for the project but has abandoned it. Rather than try and meet government obligation to the project, the private companies that contributed over N3billion appear to have been duped by the governor.

"These contributions were made in full by July, 2015 and government promised that the reconstruction will be delivered in September, 2015. But halfway into January, 2016 users of that section of the road and residents of the area are still breathing in dust occasioned by the state of the project. For over a month now, the company handling the project has left site on account of the Rivers State Government not providing funds for the project.

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