THE Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said
contrary to the claims of the immediate past administration
that it left N7 bn in the state coffers, he met an empty
treasury.
Wike explained that the treasury where the monthly federal
allocation accruing to the state was always kept had
remained in debit as of May 29 when he (governor) took over
the reins of governance in the state.
The governor made this remark on Thursday at the
Government House in Port Harcourt during the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding between the state
government and officials of Julius Berger and a Chinese
Construction firm, CCECC, for the rehabilitation of 33
kilometres of township roads in the state capital.
He stated that from the brief he received from the State
Accountant General after his inauguration, only one revenue
account with Sterling Bank had some funds left by the
immediate past administration.
Wike said, “I want to say in good authority that we did not
meet any N7 bn as being speculated. The state’s FAAC
account as of May 29, 2015 was in debit. That was the
briefing I received from the Accountant-General.”
Signing the MoU with two construction giants, Julius Berger
and CCECC, Wike explained that the step was in realisation
of his administration’s Zero Potholes programme launched on
May 29, 2015.
According to the governor, while Julius Berger is to handle
the rehabilitation of 11 kilometres of township roads
alongside street lights and traffic lights, the CCECC will
handle 20 kilometres of township roads in Port Harcourt.
He explained that the state government had resolved to work
with the construction giants to rebuild road infrastructure in
the state capital and added that the revival of facilities in
the state capital was beyond political consideration.
Wike noted that the funds for the ‘Operation Zero Potholes’
had been set aside, hence the signing of the memorandum of
understanding to ensure that the companies concluded work
in 120 days.
He, however, promised to personally monitor the execution of
the projects by the construction giants.
Wike explained that his administration had resolved to take
the N10bn loan with specific focus on key projects to be
implemented, noting that the request to the State House of
Assembly was accompanied by all the projects to be
executed.
Responding, representative of Julius Berger Plc, Mr. Marco
Braun, assured the Rivers State Government that the project
would be completed as scheduled.
Also, the representative of CCECC, Mr Lee Kin Yong,
expressed happiness that the Chinese company would be
involved in the revival of infrastructure in the state.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding was
supervised by the Rivers State Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice, Chinwe Aguma.
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