By Gabriel Atumeyi
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has lauded Julius Berger Plc for the level of construction works undertaken across the state.
Wike made this known when he played host to Former Governors Celestine Omehia, Donald Duke, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, and Bukola Saraki, who is also a former Senate President, They were among guests of honours at the commissioning of several completed projects and the flagging off of new ones in the state in the past one week.
According to the Governor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, once again, exhibited its resourcefulness, qualitative and innovative leadership of the country’s engineering construction sector as the company concurrently accomplished a series of major infrastructural development projects well ahead of their scheduled delivery dates for commissioning.
“It was a daily festival of projects commissioning which commenced on Monday 1st March, 2021, with the inauguration for public use of the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover. The project was built on record time of 14 months ahead of its schedule of 16 months completion date. Followed by the formal inauguration of the Rumuogba 1 and 2 Flyover constructed and also completed by Julius Berger ahead of schedule, and commissioning of two GRA Phase 2 roads, Tombia and Opobo Crescents, also constructed and completed by Julius Berger Plc. on the third day, which saw the formal announcement of the change of the name of Opobo Crescent to Fred Alabrabra Road. And on Thursday 4th March, was the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Government House Clinic, as well as a new ultra-modern Administrative Building, both of which were also constructed by Julius Berger.
Wike also disclosed that for this feat, the state government has flagged off several other contracts with Julius Berger Plc for the construction of two more flyovers (flyovers 7 and 8) in the Garden City, Port Harcourt on Monday, 1st March and on Friday 5th March, a new flyover project, the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo flyover and on Saturday, 6th March, yet another major infrastructural project, the Orochiri/Wurukwo Flyover at Waterlines junction, Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
According to ex-Governor Shehu Shema, “Given the quality of works the contractor continues to deliver to Nigerians across this country, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is clearly a First Class engineering construction company in the global index.”
Also speaking, Engr. Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, recalled that as Governor of Kano State, he also engaged the services of Julius Berger for the construction of three major infrastructural development projects, all of which, he said, “are still standing strong as a testimony to the strength, reliability and lasting quality of Julius Berger’s engineering standards.”
The Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr. Dr. Lars Richter, on his part, thanked Governor Wike for entrusting the company with the contracts to deliver the projects. Lars thanked the Governor fondly called “Mr Projects” by the Rivers people for his constant monitoring and tireless inspection of the projects morning, day and night during the works to deliver them, adding that a new and worthy title for the Governor would rightly and truthfully be “A Great Project Manager”.
He said: “Our company has been constructing major projects across Nigeria since 1965. We have a proven track record of successfully completing work, on time, no matter the challenge. We continue to set standards for technological leadership in the construction sector and seek to pioneer state-of-the-art construction methods and technologies to ensure that value-driven innovations are prioritized for the benefit of our clients… and our quality of works continues to stand the test of time.”