Wike summons contractor, ministry officials over slow pace of work at hospital

RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has summoned the contractor and officials of the State Ministry of Health to explain the reason behind the slow pace of work at the Mother and Child Hospital in Port Harcourt.

Speaking after project inspection on Saturday, Governor Wike said that the percentage of work done is not commensurate with the funds released so far for the project.

He pointed out that the state government had to cancel the partnership with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC on the project after they failed to pay their own counterpart funds after receiving N400million from the Rivers State Government.

The governor said: “As I speak with you, we have released the final tranche of payment for the completion of the project.  We expect that work should have gone beyond this level of completion.

“We have also released 70 percent of funds for the purchase of equipment for the Mother and Child Hospital,” stated adding that the project will be delivered as part of the third year anniversary of his administration.

The governor also visited the sites for the construction of the Cinema and Restaurants at the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park and the Judges Quarters in Port Harcourt.

He charged the contractor at the site of the Cinema and Chain of Restaurants to expedite action to ensure that the work is completed by May.

Governor Wike said that no project will be abandoned, pointing out that the state government will use the dry season maximally.

The governor was accompanied on the inspection by Chief Hanny Woko, a member of the Rivers State Senior Secondary School Board.