Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has given Raffoul Nigeria Limited, the contractor handling the 6.5km Woji–Aleto–Alesa road linking Woji in Obio/Akpor LGA to the Port Harcourt Refinery in Eleme LGA, one month ultimatum to complete the project or face contract termination.

DAILY POST reports that the road, which includes a 200-metre bridge, is intended to serve as an alternative route to the Port Harcourt Refinery and ease congestion on the busy East–West Road, a federal road currently under reconstruction.

The governor gave the deadline during an inspection of the site on Friday, saying that the handover note he received after the state of emergency indicated that the Administrator under the emergency rule, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, cancelled the contract.

He expressed disappointment that the company has shown unsatisfactory progress despite being granted two contract variations previously by his administration.

“I feel highly disappointed with the level of performance of this contractor, Raffoul.

“This project was awarded in June 2020 by my predecessor. When I came in I gave variations twice to enable them achieve a good proportion of this job. To my greatest surprise, whenever you sit with them you don’t come out with anything substantial,” he said.

According to him, if the contractor cannot complete the job in the next one month, he will cancel the contract.

The governor also raised concerns about indiscriminate dredging along the Woji river near the bridge, calling the activity environmentally dangerous.

He warned that he will take drastic action if such activities continue in the area.

Rivers: You’ve one month to deliver road project or lose your job – Fubara warns contractor