Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said his administration’s landmark projects across the state will serve as bragging rights for his party, the All Progressives Congress, during campaigns ahead of the 2027 general election in the state.
Fubara stated this on Monday during the inauguration of the reconstructed Buguma-Degema-Abonnema Road.
The 19.79-kilometre road is a major transport corridor linking communities across three local government areas of the state: Asari-Toru, Degema and Akuku-Toru.
The governor said the project would reduce insecurity and improve the socio-economic lives of residents in the three LGAs.
He said the road would end the loss of man-hours and insecurity associated with the route, adding that the contract for its rehabilitation was awarded in September 2024.
Fubara said completing the project within record time fulfilled a personal commitment he made after witnessing the severe degradation of the road during a previous visit to the area.
He stated, “It is a road that you must pass if you’re going to Abonnema. It is a road that, because of its state, a lot of evil activities were taking place there. But to the glory of God today, I don’t think those negative acts can even be imagined or carried out along that corridor again.
“I made a promise to myself that day that even if it is remaining one week, we must make sure that we fix this road. Today, to the glory of God, the road has been fixed.
“Very soon, we’ll be going round to campaign for our party. Movement will be easy. When we get there, I can boldly say, ‘Support my candidate, support my party because I have done this, I have done that, and I’m going to do that.’
“Even the ones I didn’t complete, I’m also very sure that my party will complete them. I am happy that today, we are all here gathered happily that this particular dream has come to reality.”
Fubara reiterated that his administration’s focus was not merely on executing projects but on implementing programmes that would positively impact the lives of the people.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to completing the Trans-Kalabari Highway, another major road project linking several coastal communities in the state.
The governor expressed appreciation to the people for their support and cooperation, particularly for allowing contractors to carry out their work without hindrance.
“You have shown me so much, love. Nobody can take that away. One particular project that cannot be denied is the Trans-Kalabari Road that we are doing.
“I want to beg you that if I cannot meet all your requests today, don’t worry, my successor will continue from where I stop,” he said.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works, Prof Temple Nwofor, disclosed that the Buguma-Degema-Abonnema Road project met all required state standards.
Nwofor said the road had a 50mm asphaltic binder course and a 50mm asphaltic wearing course.
According to him, the project also included the complete rehabilitation of seven existing bridges across Ido, Abalama and other neighbouring communities, as well as the installation of streetlights, concrete walkways, culverts and reinforced concrete drainage channels ranging from 0.5 metres to 2.2 metres in width to enhance the road’s durability.