There is this HUGE urban redevelopment project proposed for PH called the "Greater Port Harcourt City" project, and it's going to forever change the face of Port Harcourt. This project will further boost the economic importance to the east, and finally provide an appropriate environment for multinational corporations to operate (that are close to the fields). In the next decade, PH is going to be seeing some major changes.

Here are some articles:

[size=16pt]Rivers sets aside N50b for ‘Greater Port Harcourt City’[/size]

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.

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

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[size=16pt]Rivers Plans 20,000 Houses Yearly in Port Harcourt[/size]

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.

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[size=16pt]Stakeholders Want Southern Parts In Greater Port Harcourt[/size]

Stakeholders in the Rivers project have enjoined the state government to expand the scope of the Greater Port Harcourt City project beyond existing city centre to include the southern parts of the state.

This, they said, would reverse the monolithic status of the state and farm the platform for the realization of government development schemes in the future.

The stakeholders made the call Tuesday at a one day public hearing on the creation of Greater Port Harcourt City organised by the Rivers State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee, at the Assembly Auditorium.

Making his presentation, Dr. Anthony A. Amakiri, Head of Mass Communication Department, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt called on the state government to extend the construction of the Greater Port Harcourt to the riverine parts of the state.

According to Amakiri a vast expanse of land abound within Bakana community in Degema local government area and the Bonny River, adding that such measures would remove the negative sentiments trailing the Greater Port Harcourt City project.

“Between Bakana and Bonny is a vast land waiting for development. Government should not be afraid to develop the swamp areas, so that development can thrive therein,” he said.

He noted that when the Riverine areas are considered in the proposed Greater Port Harcourt City, it would energise development and growth in the areas.

He thanked the state government for its determination to create another major city out of Port Harcourt, noting that such dreams have been the yearnings of Rivers people at all times.

Corroborating the need to diversify the Greater Port Harcourt City, Bar Otonye Amachree said the exposed project should cut across the local government areas in the state.

Amachree declared that unless there is constitutional amendment through the collaboration of the state House of Assembly and the National Assembly, the name of the city may not enter into the map of Nigeria.

The legal practitioner then advised that those who should be placed in charge of the administration of the New Port Harcourt City be allowed to enjoy some level of independence.

However in her presentation, the sole administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Mrs. Aleruchi Cookey-Gam said the vision of the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is to build a 21st Century Modern City that could compete with other in the world.

She stated that when the Greater Port Harcourt City comes into existence, it would integrate the old Port Harcourt City adding that all the infrastructures that would be built in the New City would be extended to Port Harcourt City

The sole administrator disclosed that eight local government areas including Okrika, Ogu/Bolo, Port Harcourt, Etche, Ikwerre, Obio/Akpo, Eleme and Oyigbo make up the proposed make up the proposed Greater Port Harcourt City. Also speaking, the Chairman of Rivers State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee on the bill for the establishment of the Greater Port Harcourt City, Hon. Isaac Kamalu assumed the stake holders that their views would be articulated into the report to the committee.

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[size=16pt]Amaechi unveils design for 50yrs Greater P-Harcourt City project[/size]

Port Harcourt—The Rivers State government has earmarked eight local governments for the creation of Greater Port Harcourt City, which would commence from the 2009 budget and terminate in 50 years with a yearly input of N100 billion for its development.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi, who unveiled the design and city plan, yesterday in Port Harcourt said “the new city would be funded by the Rivers State government and by public private partnership initiatives”. He noted that the intent is to allow for urban growth through strategic planning, “to de-densify the old city, whilst gradually integrating both cities as one single unit”.

Amaechi named the councils that would embrace the fresh city to include Port Harcourt City, and parts of Oyigbo, Okrika, Ogu-Bolo, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Etche and Eleme. He then inaugurated the GPH Development Authority, headed by Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, a former SSG in the state.

Designed by Arcus Gibb, a South African city master plan designing and engineering firm, it took eight months to design the city, which covers an area of approximately 1,900 Sq km (40,000 hectares of land), with a projected population of about two million people.

According to the arrangement, there would be periodic reviews of the master plan to ensure that it meets with current realities of an emerging city.
Also, villages that fall within the plan would be integrated into the new city .

The government said compensation would be paid after verification of claim and ascertainment of ownership by the government. There will also be periodic reviews of the master plan to ensure that it meets with current realities of an emerging city.

Amaechi was of the view that the new city was necessary because “Port Harcourt is the treasure base of the nation and the fastest growing city in the Niger Delta, and there is therefore the need to control its development.

According to him, it is equally to modernize Port Harcourt and re-awaken the once thriving garden city and to improve the standard of living of all people in the city by providing better living environments that are properly serviced and give access to social services and infrastructure.

Vanguard: http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/32682/44/

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[size=16pt]Rivers Plans 300mw Power Project for New P’Harcourt City[/size]

Rivers State government would soon commence work on another 300 megawatts Independent Power Project (IPP) that would supply power to the new Greater Port Harcourt city.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Media and Publicity, David Iyofor, who disclosed this while speaking with the media, said the project is just one of the 391 that will cover about 350 communities across the state.

Iyofor said, “a lot of the communities are rural and have not been connected to the national grid. The 391 power projects will include installation of high tension, low tension, sub-stations and extensions in these communities.

“This fits into the Amaechi administration’s policy to provide power to the people of Rivers State. Presently, we are about completing a 100 megawatts and a 75 megawatts power projects that were started by a previous administration."

Iyofo also said the second Eleme Gas turbine is expected to be completed next year, adding that: "our target is to have a total of 255 megawatts of power by next year. If you add that to the 300 megawatts that we would be building for the new city, we would have roughly 600 megawatts of power. That would make Rivers State very self-sufficient with power, if you consider that Port Harcourt presently needs between 350 to 400 megawatts of power.

“The power projects have been advertised for bidding and the bidding process completed. It has gone to the Due Process Bureau for due diligence. Once it goes through Due Process which will be very soon, we will be electrifying all communities in the state.

"We hope that by December, we would have provided power to all communities in the state. Amaechi strongly believes that all Rivers communities should have regular power, no matter how difficult or impossible the terrain is.”

In terms of transmission of power to be generated, Iyofor said Rivers State is about the only state in the country with its own transmission line from Omoku to Port Harcourt.

“We are talking with the Federal Government on how we can handle distribution of power generated from our IPP. Already, this administration is building seven power sub-stations all over the state. Schneider is doing it….,” he said, adding that the power projects are part of Amaechi’s efforts to rebuild Rivers into a model state.

ThisDay: http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=146205

[center]Here are some plans relating to this project, sorry for the bad quality:







[/center]

Sounds good mehn ami ooooo jesu

Nigeria needs more of govs doing this, raising the bar.

Things like this will start easing cities.

If this goes through, hopefully the designs of the buildings would actually reflect that this is an African city, not an American one. You all know what I'm talking about. . . .

sorry for the quality

[flash=425,344]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oNEmylS7Yo&hl=en[/flash]

Well come development.

If we all do the right thing, the shall leave in a comfortable environment.

Great plans, I must say.

This is rubbish anyway.

calcal:

This is rubbish anyway.

why?

When the idea was first introduce, every one shouted hurray until we asked what became of the ones already proposed for the old Port Harcourt city. Mega hospital in partnership with Clinotech of Canada, we all know what became of it. 60 story hotel at Waterlines yet not even a pin on site.
Amaechi's government loves publicity. They build houses, roads and bridges in the media. Please, when ever you visit Port Harcourt and see any on going project, do ask who started it and you may be shocked on the reply you get.
The Greater Port Harcourt has been alotted N50B to start work yet poor communities are already fighting one another just because they were included in the mirage called Greater Port Harcourt City.
Rivers State is the only state in Nigeria (quote me) that has not commission anything because all we hear is mega this, mega that, mega, mega, mega.
If only this particular one will be executed, we shall thank God.

I hope it materializes; it's about time we start taking giant strides in Nigeria and we have the resources to do that but only the greed our people has taken us thus far!

SeanT21:

Lookin good but those houses look like American townhouses. They should keep it African.

ezeagu:

If this goes through, hopefully the designs of the buildings would actually reflect that this is an African city, not an American one.  You all know what I'm talking about. . . .

I completely agree, hopefully they will integrate some Nigerian architecture in those plans. That picture was used as an example (probably to lure some from the diaspora), so we can expect anything.

KnowAll:


When a Govenor is making a deveopment plan that will span 50 years, one should know that the Governor is not ready to do anything, it is all hot air, Mr Governor get your hands dirty and start putting some solid structure on the ground.

Megacities are not built overnight, they are built in phases and PH isn't the only city in the world that has a masterplalan that will take over a decade to complete. If I were to look at the demographics of the area, and the amount of investment that is pouring into Nigeria at the moment, I wouldn't be surprised if this was completed before 2050 because of ever increasing demand. The infrastructure that is going to support these solid structures you are talking about is supposedly under construction as we speak, but I'm not on the ground in PH so I don't know for sure. Overall I'm pretty optimistic about this project because I know this is our time to shine, and there are big things happening all over this state.

Amaechi is doing a great work in Rivers state, the young man is trying, he has built new skools in Rivers state, new hospitals, roads, empowered people with soft loans to start business etc, what about other state's were nothing is hapening at all, ?

'Port Harcourt—The Rivers State government has earmarked eight local governments for the creation of Greater Port Harcourt City, which would commence from the 2009 budget and terminate in 50 years with a yearly input of N100 billion for its development.'

50 years huh?
We'll see what subsequent administrations in Rivers State got to say about that! The country does not have a good history of continuity in government policies as regards infrastructural development.

The only area where Nigerian Governments practice continuity is - Corruption

Another abandoned project in the making.

The governor is trying,but i ve been living in port harcourt for 3 years and all i can say is that money is not everything,the quality of jobs contractors are doing here is bad.With these contractors, the best u can get is a mediocre city.Those pics are actually from existing buildings abroad and i have seen some renderings for the buildings in the new city and as an architect i m not impressed.But i know it  ll be a good project if the roads can be perfectly done and there s electricity with some landmark buildings.With these,all other things ll be secondary.

greater PH ko ,greater PH ni,

@Obyann
I hope u got the message. Lets not live in fantasy.

calcal:

@Obyann
I hope u got the message. Lets not live in fantasy.

Fantasy? What would you rather do, live in filth and go around with an age old pessimistic attitude? Work has already begun; I think it is you who is living in a fantasy. . .

the governor shld make the present PH (where there are bad road, flooding every where even GRA, incomplete road projects etc) great first before planning a greater one. We are tired of plans, we need execution of previous plans b4 u start planning new ones.

Sorry to digress but has anyone paid attention to the work progress of the contractors handling Artillery-Rumubiakani-First Bank and Rumubiakani-Slaughter, that is Zerock and RCC respectively? While it is glaring that Zerock is grossly incompetent mischief, RCC has continued to display technical competence (Infact the piling equipment hired by Zerock looks so old and worn out that it was mistaken for junk and marked 'REMOVE' with red paint by government officials) I am told the Governor personally monitors the operation of these contractors, I am surprised he is allowing this madness to continue.
WHY CAN'T HE KICK OUT ZEROCK AND ALLOW RCC COMPLETE THE PROJECT?

Behind bobo:

The governor is trying,but i ve been living in port harcourt for 3 years and all i can say is that money is not everything,the quality of jobs contractors are doing here is bad.With these contractors, the best u can get is a mediocre city.Those pics are actually from existing buildings abroad and i have seen some renderings for the buildings in the new city and as an architect i m not impressed.But i know it  ll be a good project if the roads can be perfectly done and there s electricity with some landmark buildings.With these,all other things ll be secondary.

xpawn:

the governor shld make the present PH (where there are bad road, flooding every where even GRA, incomplete road projects etc) great first before planning a greater one. We are tired of plans, we need execution of previous plans b4 u start planning new ones.

cicero:

Sorry to digress but has anyone paid attention to the work progress of the contractors handling Artillery-Rumubiakani-First Bank and Rumubiakani-Slaughter, that is Zerock and RCC respectively? While it is glaring that Zerock is grossly incompetent mischief, RCC has continued to display technical competence (Infact the piling equipment hired by Zerock looks so old and worn out that it was mistaken for junk and marked 'REMOVE' with red paint by government officials) I am told the Governor personally monitors the operation of these contractors, I am surprised he is allowing this madness to continue.
WHY CAN'T HE KICK OUT ZEROCK AND ALLOW RCC COMPLETE THE PROJECT?

This is all i ask of public officials, at present.
anybody asking for saints in the present circumstances is dreaming.
let them work first.
if they truly work,by work i mean putting the needs o the people first, fashioning out ways of meeting those needs and implementing those plans, then there will be less to steal.
if every governor restricts his stealing to the unaccountable security vote they get every month (which runs into up to 100 of millions for ND states) then naija will be a better place.
we need to start from somewhere first.
give your friends contract but let them be qualified for the contracts you award to them.
let them execute it effectively and if they do not,let the law take effect without your interference.
if Annenih fixed lagos-sagamu, benin-ore road and fixed it well,who will be most worried if he was given a 20million naira kick back?
the truth is that millions have been voted for road maintainence, roads have gotten worse than ever,lives are still been lost on those roads and the money is no where to be seen and the thieves parade their wealth while attributing it to hard work and God's grace.

to answer the question, my own governor is not performing.
The curse of rivers state is governors who love publicity and sycophancy.
Amaechi is not as bad as Odili in that regard but he is bad all the same.
most of this projects are not even thought through and most of them end up being done in the name of 'job for the boys'.
There is so much going on in the city at once, that you wonder if it is being thought through at all.
forget greater PH city, sort out the present PH city first.

@mbulela, God bless you, Amen.

gosh,
Nobody should compare Amechi's Gov with dat od ODILI,
Gov ODILI took Rivers peep back by 20yrs,
What Amechi has archive in 1yr, Odili could not do in his 8yr rule,

@mbulela
Uv said it all.

My favourite "forget the Greater PHC nd sort out first the present PHC."

nne_mak:

gosh,
Nobody should compare Amechi's Gov with dat od ODILI,
Gov ODILI took Rivers peep back by 20yrs,
What Amechi has archive in 1yr, Odili could not do in his 8yr rule,

Its either you have a very short memory and you just came to PH. Odili's list of 'achievements' is as long as my arm and we all know how that administration panned out.

Amaechi is no different from Odili. Too much press and too little work done to match the noise. Most the projects carried out at the moment were signed during Odili's tenure which Amaechi was a prominent member of. He should leave the noise and do serious work like sorting our public water supply for example and stop of all this noise about greater PH when the 'littler' PH is fast turning into Lagos (our favourite giant slum)

You are right about him been part of the Odili admin, but most of the projcet is not Odili's,

[size=14pt]Rivers Plans 20,000 Houses Yearly in Port Harcourt[/size]


Amechi has being there 2 and 1/2 years now,  has he built 50, 000 houses ?  just a simple question.