Rivers Govt to rehabilitate federal roads

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Friday that the State government would rehabilitate two federal roads in Port Harcourt.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that tanker drivers had threatened a strike action if the Eleme/Refinery junction was not rehabilitated by the Federal Government to ease traffic.

Wike dropped the hint after holding a meeting with the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) in Port Harcourt.

He noted that his administration would collaborate with Indorama Plc to rehabilitate the damaged portion of the East/West road from Eleme junction to refinery junction.

The governor stressed that the government would also work on the Port Harcourt /Aba federal road in Port Harcourt along the Oyigbo axis to create comfort for road users.

Wike reiterated the State government’s resolve to ensure the development and growth of the state’s economy.

In his remarks, the national industrial relations officer of NUPENG, Mr Bassey Harry pledged to cooperate with the Rivers Government.

He said that the union decided to cooperate with the state government because the government had decided to address issues of contention affecting its members.

Harry noted that there would be no scarcity of petroleum products in the State, adding that the union would continue to carry out its responsibilities of supplying petroleum products.

The Industrial Relations Officer stressed that following the agreement reached with the Governor, NUPENG would supply products to all the local government areas of the state.

He lauded Gov. Wike for the previous rehabilitation of the East/West road, saying that it was a death trap when the governor assumed office.

“We understand the effort of the governor, we took into consideration that when he came into office, the area we are mentioning today was like a death trap,’’ he added.

Bassey commended the governor for fixing 80 per cent of the roads within six months in office. He advised consumers against panic buying, adding that people should not store fuel in their houses.