Rivers residents praise Fubara for proposed ring road

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Rivers state residents have praised Governor Similaiyi Fubara for initiating the state’s ring road construction and for prudently managing the state’s meagre resources to address the people’s basic needs.

The commendation was given after Governor Siminalayi Fubara signed the N200 billion supplementary budget passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Mr Clinton Owate, a civil servant from Rivers State’s Eleme Local Government Area, stated that once the road is completed, he will relocate to his hometown and travel from Eleme to Port Harcourt because the journey will take less than 15 minutes.

“This is a visionary project that will further reduce the burden on Port-Harcourt, which is already overcrowded with people from nearby communities who ordinarily would have come to work from home, but couldn’t afford to, due to the bad conditions of the East-West, which is the only access road to Port-Harcourt if you are coming from the Ogoni axis,” he said. So, if this is accomplished, I have no reason to remain in Port-Harcourt; instead, I will relocate my family to my home and drive 15 or 20 minutes to the state secretariat.

Chief Justice Fiyenemika also spoke, praising Governor Siminalayi Fubara for initiating the commendable project. He stated that the Okrika will finally have access to Port-Harcourt from their backyard and that the ring road will encourage development and business growth. He asked the people of the state to support him in completing his dream project.

Mr Ejike Nwankwo of Nkpor village praised Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for signing the N200 billion supplementary budget passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly.

He stated that “Such people-oriented projects and initiatives must be commended and supported by all Rivers people.” He also stated that “the ring road projects would bring more dividends of democracy closer to the people, which is one of the goals of coming to power.”

With the addition of the N200 billion Supplementary Budget to the initial N550 billion Budget, the total Rivers State budget for the fiscal year 2023 is now N750 billion, placing Rivers State second only to Lagos.