By Akanimo Sampson
Construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is currently busy exhibiting its resourceful, qualitative and innovative leadership of Nigeria’s engineering construction sector.
It is concurrently accomplishing 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 Nyesom Wike as well as groundbreaking and flag off of several new infrastructural development projects in the oil and gas capital of Nigeria.
The latest round of commissioning of successfully executed projects of the Wike administration commenced on Monday, March 1, with the inauguration for public use of the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover. It was built on record time of 14 months ahead of its schedule of 16 months completion date.
Former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke, had the honour of commissioning it as a Special Guest of Honour. Duke was ably accompanied by his elegant wife, Onari, a lawyer and former First Lady of Cross River who is an indigene of Rivers.
Julius Berger is credited with the construction of two more flyovers (flyovers 7 and 8) in Port Harcourt, the state capital also known as the Garden City. The company’s signature is also on the Rumuogba 1 and 2 Flyover constructed ahead of schedule, and inaugurated for public use by former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, FNSE, FNIQS.
Two GRA Phase 2 roads – Tombia and Opobo Crescents – constructed and completed by Julius Berger, have further lifted the urban status of the city. Commissioning of the two roads was the former Governor of Katsina State, Ibrahim Shehu Shema. On the occasion, Governor Wike formally announced the change of the name of Opobo Crescent to Fred Alabrabra Road.
While a state-of-the-art Government House Clinic as well as a new ultra-modern Administrative Building, both of which constructed by Julius Berger, were formally unveiled by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Governor Wike performed the ground-breaking and flagging of ceremony of a new flyover project, the Nkpolu-Oroworukwo flyover still to be handled by the reliable Julius Berger.
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 for working so hard and well and delivering to the Rivers State Government and people matchless quality in the commissioned projects.
The governor also poured encomiums on the construction giant for its 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. Wike 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.
Donald Duke, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Ibrahim Sheu Shema, all praised the construction firm for the excellent and strong performance and resourcefulness by which the trustworthy contractor delivered the high quality projects for commissioning. Shema said, “given the quality of works the contractor continues to deliver to Nigerians across this country, Julius Berger is clearly a first class engineering construction company in the global index.”
Kwankwaso, an engineer and a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Fellow of the Nigerian Institue of Quantity Surveyors, recalled that 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, reliability and lasting quality of Julius Berger’s engineering standards.”
Managing Director of the company, Dr. Lars Richter, an engineer, thanked the Rivers governor for entrusting them with contracts to deliver development projects, and 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 prioritised for the benefit of our clients… and our quality of works continues to stand the test of time.’’
South-south/South-East Regional Manager of the company, Juergen Fischer, an engineer also commended Wike for the confidence he reposed in the construction company for prime projects and further echoed the appreciative remarks of 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.
