Gov. Fubara Commissions Opobo Town Ring Road, Promises To Establish Higher Institution
By Katherine Abayomi
The Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara in his drive for sustainable academic and economic growth in the state, has promises to erect an institution of higher learning in Opobo town.
In achieving this he also stated that lands will be reclamated to create space for critical infrastructure.
This was stated during the inauguration of the 7km long Opobo Town Ring road with three crossing bridge in Opobo/Nkoro local government area.
Gov. Fubara stated that the road will strategically improve connectivity and accessibility within Opobo town and other communities in the area.
“Other things are going to come. We intend to bring a higher institution to this place. We also will do more reclamation because our major problem here is land. We will also look for a way to make sure that we build more men; empower you so that you will not depend on me. Moreover, we will do all we can to make sure that we create the enabling environment where more people will be gainfully employed and empowered. That is the only way Opobo will grow.”
He added, “This is a project that was conceived on the 28th of May, 2023. This project was flagged-off by the previous administration. We took over this project, redesigned this project, and gave it a standard that it has today. This is because it is a project that has to do with me. It is a project that my people will see, and it speaks for me. So, I am happy that I am here to inaugurate this project. It gives me so much joy.”
Gov. Fubara acknowledged the immense support given him by the people of the local government and urged them to continue to stand with the government.
Governor of Zamfara state Dr Daude Lawal special guest of honour applauded Governor Fubara as a visionary leader who has championed development policies to better the lot of Rivers people, noting that such critical Infrastructure like roads, particularly in rural communities as done by him will promote socio economic growth, enhance well-being of the people.
Providing the project description, Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Barrister Elloka Tasie-Amadi, explained the difficulties encountered in eventually achieving the road project because of the terrain, saying, “This road is 7km long. It is 7.3 meters wide and has three bridges, and we have about 4km length of drains.
“We had to fill many parts of this road to the average 5 meters high with imported materials from other locations outside Opobo due to the nature of our soil. The highest filled area, where we have one of the bridges, was about 10 meters high.”
Tasie-Amadi also said: “And for our design specifications, we filled sections with sharp sand, did 200 millimeters of sand cement stabilization, 150 millimeters of stone base, 50 millimeters binder course and 50m of wearing course.”
In his welcome address, Executive Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam, described the inauguration of Opobo Town Ring Road as historic because it has changed the landscape in the Kingdom, emphasising that they have already owned the project and determined to collectively protect it so that it will serve their socio-economic needs for a long time.
Also speaking, Managing Director of Lubrik Construction Company, the firm that handled the project, Hadi Chehade, said they are delighted to be the firm to have handled the iconic road project that will strategically transform Opobo Town, and thanked Governor Fubara for trusting them with the responsibility and opportunity to offer such service to further his development agenda for the State.