By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has declared that the State Secretariat Complex which is undergoing massive reconstruction will be ready for use by the first quarter (Q1) of 2027.

The Governor stated this on Monday after a tour of the multiple and expansive high rise buildings, located in the Old GRA, Port Harcourt.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, Governor Fubara who had undertaken a similar tour of the project earlier this year, said he decided to revisit the site to confirm the extent of the job that has been done so far.
“We just did a tour of the renovation of the Secretariat. I have been seeing the outer part of it wearing a new look, but I wanted to really confirm how much job is going on, most importantly, the inside and that is what I just went to inspect myself.
I think that with the progress of work here, by the grace of God, I believe that by the first quarter of next year, it will be handed over to the government. Like I did promise, every job that we are handling, we will ensure that we put them to completion,” he said.
The Rivers State Secretariat was constructed in the 1970s, shortly after Rivers State was created in 1967. It is a massive complex consisting of multiple high-rise buildings, including the 17-storey “Point Block”, the 10-storey “Podium Block” along with three other 7-storey buildings tagged “Blocks A, B and C”.
The ongoing renovation is a comprehensive and transformative upgrade aimed at modernizing the entire complex. It involves structural rehabilitation, improved office layouts, installation of modern facilities, and upgrading of utilities to meet present-day administrative standards. The project is designed to create a more conducive, efficient, and technology-driven work environment for civil servants.

By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has reassured the people of Rivers State of his administration’s commitment to the completion of the various ongoing infrastructure projects located in different parts of the state.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor who gave this indication on Friday while inspecting the level of work on the new Airport Road Bypass in Port Harcourt, disclosed that the project had reached sixty five per cent (65%) completion stage.

He said that in spite of recent developments on the political scene, he remains in “high spirits,” ready to continue with the task of governance, especially the delivery of projects that will impact positively on the lives of the people.

“I want to assure our people that notwithstanding the situation of things, one thing that I can promise everyone, is that every good work that we have started, by the special grace of God, will continue and we will complete them. We’re in high spirits. Like, we always say, Rivers First,” he said.

Governor Fubara said that his administration conceived the idea of constructing a bypass to the Airport Road to create an alternative route for the communities around the airport and avoid a situation where some of their activities could cause obstruction along the main highway leading to the Port Harcourt International Airport.

“We’ve always had these issues where the community may want to express their anger or dissatisfaction over some activities of the airport authorities, in the process they always block the airport road.

” We thought that in this modern society, such actions are not necessary anymore because whenever it happens, it affects the economic activities of the state. So we liaised with the community and created this bypass,” he said.

Governor Fubara who was conducted round the project site by the contractors, expressed delight at the pace of work on the road, disclosing that the total project will be delivered before October 2026.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Growing heaps of uncollected refuse and the choking stench from waste dump sites are rapidly turning parts of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, into an environmental and public health concern.

Residents and business owners along the Azikoro Road axis, where overflowing waste collection points now emit offensive odours described their conditions as unbearable.

Also, Keke Riders tricycle operators and passengers are seen covering their noses while passing through the area, while some businesses situated near the dump sites are said to be relocating due to the persistent foul smell.

Drainage systems around the affected areas have also become clogged as refuse spills into gutters, increasing fears of flooding and disease outbreaks.

Investigations indicate that the worsening sanitation situation may be linked to challenges within the operations of the Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BESA), the agency established by Governor Douye Diri to implement a modern waste disposal and recycling framework.

Sources familiar with developments disclosed that a private company contracted for refuse evacuation is currently involved in a disagreement with the Authority over issues relating to payment and operational coverage.

A senior official of the company, who requested anonymity, claimed that the dispute has disrupted waste evacuation efforts and undermined the broader environmental goals of the state government.

Some of the Residents who spoke with our correspondent say the worsening conditions now pose serious health and economic implications.

“The smell from the dumps is unbearable, especially in the evenings. We cough and sneeze constantly. This has become a serious health hazard,” said Mr Ebiowei Akimi.

Another resident, Mrs Patience Ogbomo expressed concern over the situation, saying sanitation standards in the capital had deteriorated significantly.

“We used to have better sanitation before. Now refuse is everywhere and nobody seems to care. Our children are the ones suffering most,” she said.

A shop owner near one of the affected locations, Mr Tari Preye, said the poor environmental conditions have impacted businesses.

“Many of us are leaving because customers complain about the odour. Sales have dropped drastically. If urgent action is not taken, this area could become deserted,” he stated.