Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has put a road construction company on notice, warning that their contract may be reviewed due to questionable capacity and poor work delivery.
The governor made the threat on Tuesday during an inspection of the ongoing Abua–Agba Ndele Bridge and the Ahoada–Ndele Road project, praising one contractor while expressing disappointment with another.
Fubara said he was impressed with the quality and progress of work on the bridge being handled by Setraco Nigeria Limited. But he did not hide his dissatisfaction with Stream Nigeria Limited, the contractor managing the road leading to the East-West Road.
"While I am impressed with the quality and progress of work on the bridge handled by Setraco Nig. Ltd, I am not quite satisfied with Stream Nig. Ltd, the contractor managing the road leading to the East-West Road. Their capacity is questionable and the contract will be reviewed because every Kobo spent must deliver value," Fubara stated.
The governor's public criticism of the contractor signals his administration's willingness to hold companies accountable for project delivery, rather than allowing substandard work to continue simply because contracts have been awarded.
The Abua–Agba Ndele Bridge project is considered strategic because it links three local government areas—Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, and Emohua—providing faster access to the East-West Road and to Port Harcourt city.
According to the governor, the bridge will save travel time, boost economic activities, especially agriculture, and improve the movement of goods and services in the region.
The road component, which is meant to complement the bridge by providing smooth access to the East-West Road, appears to have fallen short of expectations in terms of quality and pace of work.
Fubara's insistence that "every Kobo spent must deliver value" reflects growing public demand for accountability in infrastructure spending across Nigeria, where billions of naira are often spent on projects that either fail to materialize or are delivered far below acceptable standards.
The governor also used the inspection visit to announce that more roads will be included in the state's 2026 budget, including the deplorable Ahoada–Abua road.
"We are tactically touching all LGAs, and more roads will be captured, including the deplorable Ahoada–Abua road, in our 2026 budget," he said.
The statement suggests a systematic approach to infrastructure development across Rivers State, with the administration working to ensure that all local government areas benefit from road projects rather than concentrating resources in particular regions.
Fubara reiterated his vision for the state, emphasizing that his administration remains committed to connecting all parts of Rivers State through quality infrastructure.
"Our vision remains the same: to connect all parts of Rivers State through quality infrastructure that drives growth and development," the governor stated.
The Ahoada area has been a focal point of infrastructure development in Rivers State due to its economic importance and the poor state of roads in the region, which has affected agricultural activities and business operations for years.
Farmers in the area have long complained about the difficulty of transporting their produce to markets due to bad roads, while traders have struggled with the high cost of moving goods in and out of the region.
The bridge and road project, when completed to standard, is expected to significantly ease these challenges and open up the area for more economic activities.
However, the success of such projects depends not just on awarding contracts but on ensuring that contractors have the capacity to deliver and that substandard work is not tolerated.
Fubara's willingness to publicly call out a contractor and threaten contract review sends a strong message to other companies working on government projects in the state.
It remains to be seen whether Stream Nigeria Limited will improve its performance or whether the contract will indeed be reviewed and possibly reassigned to a more capable contractor.
For residents of Abua/Odual, Ahoada-East, and Emohua local government areas, the quality of these infrastructure projects matters more than political statements. They need roads and bridges that will last and genuinely improve their lives.
The governor's inspection and his differentiated assessment of the two contractors—praising one while criticizing another—suggests he understands that infrastructure delivery requires not just budget allocation but active monitoring and accountability.
As Rivers State prepares its 2026 budget with plans to include more road projects, the question now is whether the administration will maintain this level of oversight and insistence on value for money across all its infrastructure programs.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!