I Inherited ₦200bn Debt On Uncompleted Projects — Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, recently presented a comprehensive account of his administration’s performance over the past year. Despite encountering significant political challenges early on, Governor Fubara expressed confidence in the progress made under his leadership, particularly in infrastructure, economy, education, and healthcare.
Reflecting on his tenure, Governor Fubara acknowledged inheriting 34 unfinished projects worth over 200 billion naira across various Local Government Areas. He noted that his administration has successfully completed some of these projects while others are still ongoing. This, he emphasized, is a testament to his government’s commitment to infrastructure development.
During a public presentation, Governor Fubara detailed the political crisis that erupted shortly after his inauguration. He explained that due to these challenges, his administration’s active governance effectively commenced only four months ago. Despite this, the governor announced the initiation of nine new road projects within the review period. Among these are the ambitious Port Harcourt Ring Road and Trans-Kalabari Road, collectively valued at over N500 billion. Notably, only the Port Harcourt Ring Road is being financed through borrowed funds, while the rest are funded from the administration’s accumulated savings.
In terms of economic achievements, Governor Fubara highlighted a significant increase in Rivers State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which rose from N12 billion to approximately N28 billion per month. He attributed this to improved business conditions and a decrease in crime rates. To further enhance economic stability, he established an IGR advisory team, which he personally chairs. This team has been instrumental in driving revenue increases, with figures ranging from N17 billion during off-peak periods to N28 billion during peak periods. Additionally, the governor launched a N40 billion matching fund with the Bank of Industry to provide loans at single-digit interest rates for five years.
Governor Fubara also underscored his administration’s commitment to timely salary payments, which have increased from N5.6 billion to N8.3 billion due to a long-overdue promotion exercise that spanned 11 years. He assured that pensions and gratuities are also being paid promptly.
In the education sector, Governor Fubara reported an investment of over N25 billion in the past year, with more planned to address critical conditions in the sector. His administration has completed several schools across the state and threatened to involve anti-graft agencies against political opponents withholding project funds. He detailed expenditures on various educational initiatives, including substantial funds for textbooks, examination fees, and grants for students. Notably, his administration spent over N2.6 billion on supplying textbooks across all educational levels and over N1 billion on scholarships and grants for Rivers State Indigenous medical students and the Rivers State University.
Healthcare also saw significant investments, with over N200 million allocated to combat a Lassa fever outbreak and the completion of 10 medical infrastructure projects. Governor Fubara highlighted the commissioning of the Kelsy Harrisson Memorial Hospital and the Dental, Maxillofacial, ENT, and Ophthalmology hospital. Further investments included substantial funds for equipment, additional bed spaces, and expanding the Intensive Care Unit at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). He also mentioned the establishment of a burns treatment and care unit, a modular surgical theatre, and a pathology laboratory at RSUTH.
Governor Fubara addressed questions about the 10,000 civil service jobs during an interactive session. He revealed that 60% of the initial names were over-aged and politically motivated, leading to a revision of the list to include individuals aged 30-35. He also promised to pay bursaries to students but declined to comment on the state of the Mother and Child Hospital and the Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease and Diagnosis Centre, both projects from the previous administration.
Concluding the event, Governor Fubara unveiled his administration’s scorecard and pledged to achieve even more in the coming year. He reaffirmed his goal of making Rivers State one of the best in Nigeria, highlighting the significant progress made despite the challenges faced.
This detailed account showcases the strides made by Governor Fubara’s administration in various sectors, underscoring his commitment to improving the lives of the people of Rivers State through dedicated governance and strategic investments.
