Julius Berger Nigeria Plc once again has 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 Flyover
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 ersthwhile
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 Institue 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.