The Rivers State Executive Council has approved N74.9billion worth of contracts for the reconstruction of the State House of Assembly Auditorium, construction of Kalaibiama/Epellema Road, and completion of four zonal hospitals across the state. Also approved is the renovation of Bonny General Hospital; renovation and upgrade of Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Rumuigbo; as well as construction of new General Hospital at Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
While the reconstruction of the demolished Assembly Auditorium in Port Harcourt will cost N19, 566, 621, 284.24; the Kalaibiama-Epellema Road and bridge in Opobo-Nkoro Local Government Area will gulp N29,035,907,233.76; just as the hospitals will cost N26,350,310, 714.88. The state government said that it decided to complete the construction of the zonal hos- pitals in four local government areas of the state to strengthen the secondary level healthcare service delivery to the people of the state.
At its meeting, presided over by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and attended by the Deputy Governor, Prof Ngozi Odu and other council members at the government house in Port Harcourt on Friday, approval was also given for the cancellation of all previous contracts awarded for the construction of the zonal hospitals. Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Oreh, said that the approval was sequel to the memos presented by the Ministry of Health to the State Executive Council. Specifically, Dr. Oreh said the ministry requested for the approval of the cancellation and termination of all existing contracts for those zonal hospitals in the state, and the re-awarding of fresh contracts that will enable completion of the projects, including the renovation of the Bonny General Hospital.
She said, “We are thankful to the Rivers State Executive Council that the various decisions sought and prayers that were made by the state Ministry of Health for the approval of the termination of the contracts for completion of the Zonal Hospitals at Ahoada, Bori, Degema and Omoku, and the re-award of fresh contracts for their completion were approved.” Dr. Oreh explained that the State Executive Council also approved that following the termination of the previously awarded contracts, fresh contracts should be awarded to new competent contractors who have such capacity to deliver on those projects. She emphasised that such contractors would also be mobilized to site so that they can commence construction work on those separate projects in the health sector in order to advance healthcare delivery in the State.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Special Projects, Dr Roland Obed-Whyte, said his ministry presented two memos that requested for the award of separate contracts. He said that the first is a re- quest for Council’s approval for the award of contract for the reconstruction and furnishing of Rivers State House of Assembly Auditorium Complex. Dr. Obed-Whyte explained that by the time the work on the Rivers State House of Assembly building is completed, it will turn out to be one of the very best Assembly complexes in the country. In her presentation, the acting Director General of Rivers State Bureau for Public Procurement (RSBOPP), Engr Ine Briggs, said that due diligence has been done by the agency in scrutinising the projects and the cost efficiency, adding that after due diligence was conducted, the agency issued certificates of no objection on the projects.
