Rivers state approves N74.9bn for assembly complex reconstruction, others

• These details were shared in a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, on Friday
  

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The Rivers State Executive Council has approved N74.9bn for several key projects, including the reconstruction of the House of Assembly auditorium, construction of Kalaibiama/Epellema Road, and completion of four zonal hospitals.

The council also approved the renovation of Bonny General Hospital, renovation and upgrade of Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Rumuigbo, and construction of a new General Hospital in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor LGA.

These details were shared in a statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, on Friday.

The reconstruction of the assembly auditorium in Port Harcourt will cost N19.57bn, the Kalaibiama-Epellema Road and bridge in Opobo-Nkoro LGA will cost N29.04bn, and the hospitals will cost N26.35bn. The zonal hospitals are located in Ahoada, Degema, Omoku, and Bori towns.

The state aims to strengthen secondary healthcare by completing these hospitals. At a meeting chaired by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the council also canceled previous contracts for these hospitals to re-award them for completion.

Health Commissioner Dr. Adaeze Oreh noted that these approvals followed memos from the Ministry of Health requesting termination of existing contracts and issuance of new ones to ensure project completion.

She said, “We are thankful to the Rivers State Executive Council that the various decisions sought and prayers that were made by the Rivers State Ministry of Health for the approval of the termination of the contracts for the completion of the zonal hospitals at Ahoada, Bori, Degema and Omoku, and the re-award of fresh contracts for their completion were approved.

“That the request to the State Executive Council for the approval of the award of these contracts in total summed up to N26, 350, 310, 714. 88k that was approved for the completion of those zonal hospitals, the renovation of Bonny General Hospital and the upgrade of the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital.

“This also included the construction of a new General Hospital at Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, which were not among those initially awarded for renovation.”