RSHA: Fubara’s N200bn Supplementary Budget Now at Committee Stage

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The N200 billion Supplementary Appropriation Bill for 2023, presented to the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) by Governor Fubara Siminalayi is now at the committee stage, after it passed second reading on the floor of the House, yesterday.

The Rivers State governor had last week sent the bill to the House for the state lawmakers to consider and grant approval. This, when approved, would alter the earlier passed 2023 budget of the state from N544.6 billion to N744.6billion.

According to Fubara, the budget when approved and passed into law would be used to construct a star project in the state to be known as “Port Harcourt ring road”.

The governor said the project would be funded from Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) and the state’s statutory refunds.

Debating on the bill during plenary yesterday, all the lawmakers that contributed spoke in favour of the bill.

In their separate speeches each praised the potential benefits drivable from the proposed “ring road” project when executed; noting that it woulf decongest traffic, enhance the fight against insecurity, promote the opening up of communities in the state, just as it will attract investors.

They appealed for immediate passage of the bill to facilitate fast manifestation of the outlined and perceived benefits.

In his remarks, the House Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, commended the project, describing it as star project of the present state administration and a good one for the state.

“This is one project that will link the roads within the city of Port Harcourt to other roads through the link road,” he said.

He assured that many benefits would be derived from the project when completed, noting that this was the demonstration of the consolidation electioneering campaign mantra of this administration.

“No one government can solve all problems, previous administrations in the state solved quiet a lot of problems, what the current administration is doing in to solve more problems.

“Government is a continue, whatever the immediate past administration did not complete, the current administration will complete it, even the administration’s that will come in the future will continue from where this current one will stop, in all one thing is permanent; good news for the people of Rivers State,” he stressed.

He therefore, committed the bill to an adhoc committee, led by the member representing Eleme constituency, Igwe Obe Oforji.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the sitting, the Leader of the House, Edison Ehie, explained that the project for which the bill was being sought for approval was multifaceted in benefits and would enhance the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state.

“From the education sector to the health sector to works; when the bill is passed into law and the ring road built, it will enhance the emergency Department of the health sector, in the area of security, this is one project that will assist in curbing crimes and criminality in the state; as it will help security agencies to arrive scenes in any part of the state on good time.

“The project traverses different Local Government in the State, from Port Harcourt City to Obio Akpor, to Oyibo, Eleme, to Ahoada and Etche Council areas.”

Also speaking with journalists, Offorji, noted that the project when implemented would alleviate the suffering currently being faced by his constituents in the Eleme/Onne axis of East-West road.