Governor Nyesom Wike has refuted claims that his administration is borrowing money to finance the execution of its several development projects in River state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for the construction of Trans-Kalabari Road Phase 1 in Degema Local Government Area on Thursday, Governor Wike said that his administration takes great care in executing its several development projects to completion stage without being indebted to any financial institution.
He noted that he is not borrowing to fund any project in the state and will definitely not do so to complete the Trans-Kalabari Road that is connecting Krakrama, Omekwe-ama, Angula-ama, Mina-ama and other communities in the Kalabari area.
“People are asking where am I getting the money from. People are saying I’m borrowing money. If I borrow money to develop my place (state) is there any offense there? They that borrow, did they do the road? If I’m borrowing and doing the work, have I not done well?
“But in any case, I am not borrowing money. It is a matter of how you manage the resources of the people.
“So, I’m not owing any Bank. I challenge any bank to say Rivers State government is indebted to them. The only money we took for agriculture, which Central Bank gave us, N5 billion, as I speak to you, we have not touched one Naira. The money is still in there.”
The governor recalled how in 2009, the previous administration in the State implemented a payment module that clearly showed its lack of interest in either constructing or completing the Trans-Kalabari Road that it awarded then.
According to him, no longer will anybody come to hoodwink Kalabari people with the promise of constructing Trans-Kalabari Road in the name of politics, because phase one of the project will be completed by 2022.
“We have not only awarded the contract, but we have also awarded it in such a way that they (contractor) have nothing to do with us about funding.
“We have signed an irrevocable standing order where every month the contractor collects from the bank N1 billion. So, as this month is ending, that’ll be the third billion they’ve collected.
“I’ve told you here that we’ve instructed the banks, take N1 billion off from our IGR account every month and give to the contractor to do the project. So, we are not borrowing money from any Bank.”
Governor Wike expressed regrets that the previous administration in the State had received, N100 billion naira and N46 billion naira, at different times, and was not well-meaning or committed to executing the project.
According to him, what matters to his administration is what can be done with the privilege that the people have given to them.
Chairman of Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, who performed the flag-off, said after a meeting with Governor Wike, leaders of Kalabari nationality met at home and decided the road mapping of the phase one of the Trans-Kalabari Road project.
He noted that the project, which was conceived about 15 years ago has finally come true.
“We are here with our heads raised her high, gathered here for a moments event. This laudable project was conceived 15yesrs ago, and it remained a strong desire and aspiration. Luckily you came in and our dreams have come through.
“Although, this is just a flag-off, but with your style of project execution, we can go home believing that it is as good as completed.”
Rivers State Commissioner of Works, Elloka Tasie-Amadi said the Trans-Kalabari Road Phase 1 is a 13.599km road project which will have a bridge that will connect several island communities to the mainland of the State via the existing Buguma/Degema/Abonemma Rd.
“It will provide an economically viable alternative to marine transportation and further stimulate other developments in and around the Area by easing the movement of goods, services and persons.”
