The Rivers State government has, following the withdrawal of German construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, from the State on account of insecurity, entered into negotiations with a Chinese firm, China Harbour and Engineering Company to take up projects in the state.
It will also henceforth, prosecute any company which executes poor quality jobs for the State, pointing out that there was a law to that effect and that it would be strictly applied especially on companies which build poor quality roads for it.
Governor Chibuike Amaechi stated this yesterday in an interactive session with newsmen in the State where he lamented that all the developmental projects he hoped would change the lives of the people positively were stalled.
He described the Chinese construction company as the fifth largest and best construction firms in the world whom he discussed with when he traveled to that country, adding however that he was not replacing Julius Berger but would be bringing the Chinese to create healthy competition.
Amaechi regretted that after spending about N11 billion on the power sector project of the state, the expatriates, who were handling it moved out of the State after the kidnap of Julius Berger workers.
The situation, he lamented, had put on hold the projected completion of the project before December for regular power supply from the gas turbines built by the State at nearly N60 billion according to former Governor Peter Odili.
He therefore stressed the need for all hands to be on deck for the flushing out of criminals from the State so that the development planned by his administration would be realized.
Aug142008