In a proactive move to mitigate the perennial threat of flash flooding in the state capital, the Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Professor Temple Nwofor, led a high-level supervisory visit to the NTA-Ozuoba road project site on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
The inspection focused primarily on the ongoing construction and de-silting of the critical drainage infrastructure along the busy corridor, which serves as a major artery connecting the Obio/Akpor local government area to several residential and commercial hubs.
Professor Nwofor, a seasoned academic in civil engineering recently inaugurated by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, emphasized that the state government is prioritizing “engineering integrity” over cosmetic repairs. During the visit, the Commissioner was seen meticulously examining the depth and slope of the concrete channels to ensure they meet the hydraulic capacity required to handle the anticipated heavy rains of the 2026 season.
Nwofor noted that the drainage work is a vital component of the broader Okania-Ogbogoro-Ozuoba road reconstruction, a ₦6.7 billion project intended to ease the traffic congestion currently exacerbated by the ongoing Port Harcourt Ring Road construction.
The NTA-Ozuoba axis has long been a worry for commuters during the rainy season, with poor stormwater management often leading to submerged vehicles and stalled commerce. By personally supervising the weekend work, the Commissioner signaled the administration’s “no-weekends-off” policy regarding essential infrastructure.
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Sources within the Ministry of Works revealed that the contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has been directed to expedite the completion of the drainage covers to allow for the immediate restoration of pedestrian walkways and to prevent accidents involving open gutters during the evening hours.
The business community along the NTA road has reacted positively to the Commissioner’s presence on-site. Local shop owners and transport union representatives noted that the visible progress on the drainage system has already reduced the “clogging” usually seen after minor showers this month.
Financial observers in the state highlight that the Fubara administration is utilizing internally generated revenue (IGR) to fund these interventions, ensuring that critical urban renewal projects like the NTA-Ozuoba drainage do not suffer from the funding delays typically associated with external borrowing.
As of Sunday morning, March 29, 2026, the site remains active, with the Ministry of Works maintaining a 24-hour monitoring desk to track the progress of the CCECC teams. Professor Nwofor has vowed to continue these unannounced supervisory visits across various LGAs to ensure that every naira of the state’s 2026 appropriation bill—dubbed the “Budget of Sustainable Development”—is reflected in the quality of the concrete and asphalt on Rivers streets.
