Greater Port Harcourt city phase I to be completed in 5 years

The new management of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA) has promised to complete the phase one of the new city within the next five years. And to ensure that safety of those who will be involved in the development of the new Port Harcourt city, the GPHCDA is to liaise with the State Police command and other security agencies to provide round the clock security surveillance.

The administrator GPHCDA, Desmond Akawor, who made the pledge during a tour of the new city, said the Rivers State government is determined to ensure that within the next five years, areas covering Omagwa and Iguwuruta, which is  in the Phase one is completely built up area.

In addition to this, he said the business area, especially the golf course under construction as well as the road leading from the airport to Obiri Ikwerre interchange on the East-West Road will also be completed.

Akawor who was former minister of state Federal Capital Territory, expressed delight over the completion of the temporary bulk water supply plant and the 33 KVA electricity supply substation contract projects.

He however, observed that there is problem with the water project in terms of reticulation that has not been completed, adding that the management will ensure that the contractors return to site and complete the work.

The New City master plan covers Port Harcourt and parts of seven other local government areas, namely Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Etche, Oyigbo, Eleme, Okrika and Ogu/Bolo. It occupies a land area of 190,000 hectares (about 1,900 sq. km) with a projected population of two million.

The administration explained that the government believes that Port Harcourt city should be expanded as clearly articulated in page 21 of the blueprint of the new Rivers vision of Governor Nyesom Wike.

According to him, the Greater Port Harcourt city will give the people of the state a taste of what a Garden City ought to be like, even as the government will pursue the urban renewal programme that will restore the lost glory of old Port Harcourt city.

He explained that the new management of the GPHCDA as part of its strategy to change the one city status of Rivers state, will intensify effort to ensure that a cosmopolitan city emerges around the Eleme and oil and gas free zone, to enable people work, live and play within that area.