Leading construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has again strongly exhibited its resourceful, qualitative and innovative leadership of the country’s engineering construction sector as the company concurrently accomplished a series of major infrastructural development projects well ahead of their 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 Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS (Africa) as well as groundbreaking and flag off of several new infrastructural development projects in the Rivers State Capital.
This round of commissioning of successfully executed and completed projects by the Rivers State Government, commenced on Monday 1st March, with the inauguration for public use of the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover. The project was built on record time of 14 months ahead of its schedule of 16 months completion date, was commissioned by the Special Guest of Honour at the event, the former Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Donald Duke at Okoro-Nu-Odo, Obior Akpor. Donald Duke was ably accompanied by his elegant wife Her Exellency, Barrister Mrs Onari Duke, the former First Lady of Cross River State who is an indigene of Rivers State.
On the 2nd day 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 Flyovers constructed and also completed by Julius Berger ahead of schedule was formally inaugurated by the State government for public use. The Special Guest of Honour at this ceremony was the former Governor of Kano State, Engr. Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, FNSE, FNIQS.
The next day, 3rd March, saw Governor Ezenwo 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 also formally announced the change of the name of Opobo Crescent to Fred Alabrabra Road. The Guest of Honour at the commissioning of the two roads was the former Governor of Katsina State, His Excellency, Alhaji (Barrister) Ibrahim Shehu Shema.
On Thursday 4th March, in the evening, 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 His Excellency Dr Bukola Olusola Saraki, the former Kwara State Governor and erstwhile President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On Friday 5th March, Governor Wike performed the ground-breaking and flagging of ceremony of a new flyover project, the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo flyover to be constructed by the indefatigable and reliable Julius Berger. Chief Dan Orbih, the South-south Zonal Chairman of the PDP was the Special Guest of Honour of the Governor at the ceremony.
Not done with his busy weekday work itinerary, Governor Wike again on Saturday, 6th March, invited the former Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief (Sir) 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.
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.
The Governor 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 every one of 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 the words of ex-Governor Shehu Shema, “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.”
Engr. (Dr.) Rabiu 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, reliabilty and lasting quality of Julius Berger’s engineering standards.”
The Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr. Dr. Lars Richter thanked Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike for entrusting the company with the contracts to deliver the projects. Lars thanked the Governor fondly called “Mr Projects” by the Rivers people for his constant monitoring and tireless inspection of the projects morning, day and night during the works to deliver them, adding that a new and worthy title for the Governor would rightly and truthfully be “A Great Project Manager”.
Dr Lars Richter Lars said and further assured: “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”.
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 and further echoed the appreciative remarks of Engr Lars Richter. He promised to continue to work with his team to justify the trust of the Governor and the people and only progressively uphold and upscale the best quality that defines the leading Julius Berger engineering standard.
