BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Julius Berger Nigeria Plc once again has accomplished a series of major infrastructural development projects ahead of scheduled delivery dates for commissioning by the Rivers State Government in Port Harcourt, last week.
All of last week, it was a daily festival of projects commissioning by Governor Nyesom Wike, as well as groundbreaking and flag off of several new infrastructural development projects in the Rivers State Capital.
The round of commissioning of the executed and completed projects by the Rivers State Government, commenced on Monday, March 1, 2021 with the inauguration for public use of the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover. The project which was built on record time of 14 months ahead of its schedule of 16 months completion date, was commissioned by the former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, who was ably accompanied by his wife, Mrs Onari Duke, who is an indigene of Rivers State.
On day two of the harvest of projects commissioning, the Rivers State Government in the morning at the Council Chambers of the Government House, again signed another contract with Julius Berger Plc for the construction of two more flyovers (flyovers 7 and 8) in the Garden City, Port Harcourt.
Thereafter, the Rumuogba 1 and 2 Flyover constructed and also completed by Julius Berger ahead of schedule was formally inaugurated on behalf of the State government by the former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso for public use.
Similarly, the Day-three saw Governor Nyesom Wike also commissioning two GRA Phase 2 roads, Tombia and Opobo Crescents, constructed and completed by Julius Berger Plc. At the ceremony, Governor Wike announced the change of name of Opobo Crescent to Fred Alabrabra Road. The commissioning of the two roads had the former governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema as the special guest of honour.
In the same vein, on Thursday, March 4, Governor Wike commissioned a state-of-the-art Government House Clinic as well as a new ultra-modern Administrative Building, both of which were constructed by Julius Berger. The Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony was former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Olusola Saraki.
Also on Friday, March 5, Governor Wike performed the ground-breaking and flagging of ceremony of a new flyover project, the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo flyover to be constructed by Julius Berger. Chief Dan Orbih, the South-south Zonal Chairman of the PDP was the Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony.
Not done with his busy weekday work itinerary, Governor Wike again on Saturday, March 6, invited the former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Celestine Ngozichim Omehia, to flag off yet another major infrastructural project, the Orochiri/Wurukwo Flyover at Waterlines junction, Aba road, Port Harcourt.
From one completed project to the other, Julius Berger’s premium, pace-setting, reliable and lasting engineering construction quality was extolled by each speaker at the events.
This was as Governor Wike, at every stop, heartily thanked the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, for working so hard and well and delivering to the Rivers State Government and people matchless quality in the commissioned projects.
The Rivers State Governor also poured encomiums on Julius Berger for its very professional speed in delivering the projects in 14 months ahead of the 16 months originally scheduled for the completion of the works, in spite of the clear challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wike also seized the opportunity to thank all the people of the communities in which the projects were constructed for the peace, cooperation and support they gave to Julius Berger which enabled them to achieve and deliver the projects.
Former Governors Donald Duke of Cross River State, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State and Ibrahim Sheu Shema of Katsina States, all praised Julius Berger for the excellent and strong performance and resourcefulness by which the trustworthy contractor delivered the high quality projects for commissioning.
In specifics, Shema said; “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.”
In his own comment, Kwankwaso, a fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, 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, Dr. Lars Richter thanked Governor Wike for entrusting the company with the contracts to deliver the projects and equally thanked the governor for his constant monitoring and tireless inspection of the projects morning, day and night during the works.
Lars said that a new and worthy title for Governor Wike would rightly and truthfully be “A Great Project Manager”.
According to Lars; “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.
Speaking in turn, the South-south/South-east regional Manager of Julius Berger, Engr. Juergen Fischer also thanked Governor Wike for the confidence he reposed in the company for the projects.
Fischer promised to continue to work with his team to justify the trust of the Governor and the people in order progressively uphold and upscale the best quality that defines the leading Julius Berger engineering standard.
