Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has directed the contractor handling the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex to speed up work immediately, expressing deep dissatisfaction with the slow progress.
During an inspection visit to the construction site on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, Ibas described the current pace as “grossly abysmal” and warned that further delays would not be tolerated. He emphasized the project’s strategic importance, stating that the people of Rivers State deserve timely results.
“This project is of strategic importance, and we must treat it as such. The people of Rivers State expect results. Any further delays will be unacceptable. All hands must be on deck to meet the agreed timelines,” Ibas declared.
Expressing disappointment with the contractor’s performance, he noted that despite clear deadlines and continuous supervision, progress had fallen far short of expectations. “From the consultants’ reports and what I have seen here today, the performance is far from satisfactory. The contractor needs to do a lot more. The current pace is unacceptable,” he said.
To address the delays, Ibas revealed plans to summon the contractor for an emergency meeting to reassess challenges and realign efforts for timely project delivery.
In a related development, the Administrator also inspected major sports facilities in the state, including the Yakubu Gowon Stadium and the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, with plans for upgrades to enhance their functionality.
Commending Rivers athletes for their recent successes in national and international competitions, Ibas stressed the urgent need for improved sports infrastructure. “We have teams representing the state at continental levels, yet we lack facilities that can host such matches. That has to change. We are here to assess and act,” he stated.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revitalizing sports facilities across the state, ensuring athletes have access to world-class infrastructure to compete effectively on the global stage.
