The Rivers State Government is to commence the construction of the Greater Port Harcourt City next year. Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi announced this today when the Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Ltd, and members of the Management of the Sun Newspapers paid him a courtesy visit in Port Harcourt . Governor Amaechi, who explained that the delay in the commencement of the project was due to the different proposals that came up, said he has directed the Committee handling the project to commence work while the developers could join at any point their proposals were okayed.

The Governor, who gave an assurance that he would do whatever was necessary to improve the quality of lives of the ordinary people in the state, stressed that the move informed the focus the administration has placed on road construction, education and health this year. He disclosed that by next year work would also begin on the construction of water facilities based on the approved master plan in Port Harcourt , while the second phase of the water project in the rural areas would commence as soon as the Port Harcourt project was completed. Government, Rt. Hon. Amaechi said, was doing all these to justify the confidence reposed on him by the Sun Group, who conferred on him with the Sun-Man-of-the-Year Award, and the need to provide for his people. “I also want to prove that the award you gave to me was not misplaced, and not tied to the Supreme Court Victory alone”, he said. He also told the visitors that crime level in Port Harcourt has reduced drastically because his government insisted on enforcement of the law, while pointing a gory picture of the security situation in the state before he assumed the mantle of leadership.

“People are forgetting that by the time we came, there was curfew, while children were carrying guns openly in the street, and the police were helpless”, Amaechi stated, explaining that all that has changed. Earlier, the Managing Director of The Sun Publishing Ltd, Mr Mike Awoyinfa said the visit was part of the activities marking the organisation’s five years Anniversary celebration, and thanked Governor Amaechi for the massive transformation the state has undergone within the period. BLESSING WIKINA Ag. Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

Rivers State Official Website

Yinka Kolawale

1 December 2008 - The Rivers State government has approved plans to build 20,000 residential houses yearly, starting next year, at the new Greater Port Harcourt city.

And for this purpose a new agency has been established to oversee the development of the project, to be known as Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority .

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ogbonna Nwuke, said the government has accepted the recommendations of the consultants for the Greater Port Harcourt City Master plan and has approved that between N50 billion and N100 billion be committed annually to the development of infrastructure in the new city.

Nwuke also disclosed that the state executive council has approved the provision of street Lighting in Port Harcourt to enhance security, beautify the city, and brighten the environment. At present, most of the major streets in the city and its environs are not illuminated at night.

Meanwhile, the state government has also conluded plans for the construction of a bridge across the Bolo Creek in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state. The project is to link the Island community to other parts of the state.

During a facility tour of the area, Governor Chibuike Amaechi disclosed that the contract for construction of the bridge project has already been awarded and that the state government had paid 25 per cent of the project value to mobilise the contractors, who have been given 18 months to complete the work.

Amaechi also pledged that all ongoing projects in the area would be completed before the middle of next year, urged them to assist government monitor projects in their community to ensure a speedy delivery

"There is need for projects to be properly supervised by government agencies and the benefitting communities also need to assist monitor projects sited in their area and report to government if the need arises," he said.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200812010935.html

January 6, 2009 - The Rivers State Government has earmarked N50 billion for the implementation of the new Port Harcourt master plan and Greater Port Harcourt City project.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi stated this while presenting the Bill to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly in Port Harcourt last week.

He informed the House that an international firm had produced a master plan for the capital city and the new Greater Port Harcourt City, and that his government is sold on the idea and determined to implement the new master plan.

Amaechi said: "To this end, government will establish a Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority charged with the responsibility of implementing the master plan. We have set aside N50 billion this year to fund the project. Let me assure you all, that at the end of this exercise, we will have a world class city that will be clean, green, orderly and a delight for us to live in."

The governor, however, said that one of the most painful programmes of his administration has been the demolition of illegal structures within the capital city which has generated negative feelings in those affected by it.

"In the days ahead, more people will be required to make some sacrifices. We engaged the services of an international firm to produce a master plan for Port Harcourt and the new Greater Port Harcourt City. They have produced a master plan for Port Harcourt and the new city," said Amaechi.

He also said that to arrest the continuing deterioration of infrastructure in the educational sector, the state government has also embarked on the construction of 250 model primary schools and 23 international standard secondary schools.

He stated that the relocation and construction of a multibillion new ultra modem Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) will begin in the first quarter of the year.

Throwing light on road infrastructure provision, he said his administration has started a massive rural road construction programme across the state based on his commitment towards ensuring the construction of standard roads across the state.

In a related development, the governor said plans have been concluded to award contracts for the dualisation of three roads in the Diobu area of the capital city namely, Iloabuchi, Ojoto and Azikiwe roads by March which would be followed almost immediately in April with the award of contract for the laying of water pipes, according to Governor Rotimi Amechi.

The governor also disclosed that water pipes would be buried underground and appealed to residents for understanding, promising to give compensation to owners of structures to be affected by the demolition.

He pledged to check flooding in the state capital, Port Harcourt, saying this may result in the shifting of some fences but that his government would be prepared to pay compensation on all structures that may be demolished for the road expansion. "You should bear the pain as I am managing to bear the pain in my conscience, but it is a necessary duty I must do for every body," he said.

http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicpage.asp?id=74158

Kobojunkie:

I am just saying . . . even dubai was built with private money mostly and not the people's money. I sort of get this idea that all these MEGA city projects popping up here and there have to do with the success of dubai, but no be government build dubai though. Na private trillionaires do am, abi no be so? lol

abi, are we scrapping the move towards democracy and less government? I am just saying , roflmao!!

Kelvin Ebiri

Port Harcourt - The Rivers State government says it would soon conclude an agreement with Transcorp Hilton Corporation Nigeria for the construction of a Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Port Harcourt.

The 60-storey hotel would be located at the site of the Rivers State Transport Corporation, (RTC), Waterlines junction by Olu Obasanjo Road, Port Harcourt.

Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Ogbonna Nwuke, said work on the project is expected to commence in January 2009. He explained that already, Transcorp Hilton has raised an initial sum of $500 million for the project and $1 million as guarantee should it fail to appear on site within one month.

Nwuke said under the agreement, Rivers State, which would own a 20 per cent equity in the investment, would make land available as its own contribution to the project, in line with the public-private-partnership arrangement.

He also disclosed that the state government has entered into an agreement with an undisclosed South African firm to revitalise and manage the Port Harcourt International Airport Hotel, Omagwa, under a public-private-partnership arrangement.

The Commissioner said another agreement has been reached with a South African firm, Shop Rite, to manage the multi-billion naira state-owned shopping Mall under construction at the GRA Junction, Port Harcourt.

Nwuke said the benefits from the ventures would include the creation of employment opportunities for indigenes of the state and revenue for the state government.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Urban Development, Mr. Osima Gina, has said that a vast area of land belonging to the state government has been recovered between Okija and Olu-Obasanjo Road, following the urban renewal initiative carried out in the area.

[url=http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/homes_property/article10//indexn3_html?pdate=081208&ptitle=Transcorp%20plans%20$500m%20Port%20Harcourt%20hotel&cpdate=081208"]The Guardian[/url]

otokx:

Amaechi is trying but its not all eureka, the price of petrol is the most expensive in Port Harcourt.