The Administrator of Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam has emphasized the need for key Government Agencies to collaborate in the provision of infrastructure projects to enhance the developments in the State.
She made this call when the Management of the Authority paid a courtesy call on the Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to sensitize the Commission on the activities and programme of the Authority and acquaint them with the Greater Port Harcourt Master Plan.
The Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Christian Oboh observed that NDDC also has a Master Plan for the development of the Niger Delta and congratulated the Governor of Rivers State his Excellency Rt. Honourable Rotimi Amaechi on his Vision in commissioning a Master Plan for the Development of Greater Port Harcourt Area and the establishment of an Authority to ensure implementation of the Master Plan for the structured development of the State.
The Chief Executives of both organizations agreed to establish the NDDC/GPHCDA joint coordinating Committee to periodically knowledge and information and ensure that their respective Master Plans align for integrated development of Rivers State.
The Administrator also appealed for collaboration between both agencies to promote capacity building and technical skills exchange. The need for similar development planning programme to be instituted at the Local Government Areas particularly the Head Quarters was underscored by Dr. Christian Oboh.
Meanwhile in another development, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam JP, has called on professionals in the built industry to take the centre stage in infrastructural development, adding that the sector is too important to be left in the hands of quacks.
Mrs Cookey-Gam made this call when the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Rivers State Chapter, paid her a courtesy call in her office. She further stated that the Authority, which has the mandate to implement the New City Master Plan, is at a critical stage of its infrastructural development, as several contracts for priority projects to open up the New City have already been awarded.
The projects are ;M10 freeway to connect the Port Harcourt International Airport and the Onne seaport, Internal Township Services, Electricity, Water, other priority roads, Waste Water, Waste Management, and Mixed Use Housing Units. While welcoming collaboration from the construction industry, the Administrator commended the active participation of the Nigerian Institute of Architects during the recent workshop on the Legislative and Administrative Framework for Planning and Development Control in the Greater Port Harcourt Area.
She also charged them to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that exist in the Greater Port Harcourt Project.
