Rivers Administrator Urges Immediate Completion Of Renovation Work On Assembly Complex

By Ayodele Oni

With three months to the end of his tenure, the sole administrator of Rivers state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has raised concerns over the sluggish progress on the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex renovation in Port Harcourt.

During an inspection visit on Friday, Ibas criticized the pace of work, saying it was far below the standard expected by the state government, describing the situation as unacceptable and urged immediate improvement.

In a statement issued by Hector Igbikiowubo, his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ibas expressed disappointment with the contractor’s handling of the project, stressing that the delay contradicts agreed timelines.

“From both what I’ve observed on-site and the consultant’s report, there’s clearly a lack of urgency. The work is far behind schedule, and I am not impressed with what I’ve seen.”

To address the situation, Ibas said the contractor would be summoned for an urgent meeting to review the project’s status and ensure everyone involved is committed to delivering it on time.

“This project holds significant value for the state, and we will not tolerate further delays. Timely delivery is crucial, and the contractor must rise to the occasion,” he warned.

In addition to the Assembly Complex visit, the Sole Administrator also inspected key sports facilities in the state, including the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Elekahia and the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex.

Ibas noted that despite the impressive achievements of Rivers athletes on national and international stages, poor infrastructure remains a major setback, forcing teams to play outside the state.

“These are talented young people representing us across Africa, yet we lack the basic infrastructure to host matches at home. We came here to assess how best we can turn things around and make sure our facilities match their potential.”

He reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to upgrade sports infrastructure across the state, saying the goal is to create a world-class environment for athletes to train and compete.