This year’s alone the rains have thought men and officers of the Metrological department some new lessons in what the insurance industry call unforeseen circumstances, catastrophic circumstances or etc.
The rains have rained havoc in many lands in Europe, America and the Pacific. Thrust the US, they come with beaAutiful names for even terribly bad situations. Country presidents have resigned due to the out cry of citizens on the perceived poor management of the crisis left behind by the wreckage. In Nigeria, the story is not different in magnitude of losses. But in management oh yes, there is a very wide and unimaginable difference. Here we have official who would prefer to pocket fund meant for relief materials and watch victims die! But if this is what is prevalent in Kano, Ibadan, Bauchi with warning signs about its repeat occurrence within the year in some satellite town what is the situation in a place state called Rivers State? Here, it does not rain but pours as if the heavens are angry. Without notice, it pours like the days of Noah are here again.

More than 70% of rivers state is below sea level. the city of Port Harcourt the main and single Upland town was initially well laid. In the old town axis of Borokiro, Lagos etc the city road network compares with anyone. But the beauty is marred with dirt due to infrequent use of waste bin which dots the town despite the regular faces of the dreaded officials of Rivers State Environmental Sanitation (RESA). The Diobu axis from which the name Garden city was probably derived, despite its well layout developed fast to becoming the jungle of the state capital. At night, a fresh visitor is not likely to leave the den without the lion's claws on their back. The place has defiled all possible attempts by governments to change its face through servicing or improving the existing infrastructures available. On the D-Line axis, which looks more like our dear Suru-lere Lagos, the story is the same. The Governor Amechi magic on beautifying of Port Harcourt torched down there heavily and brought down all wall. Today, criminal activities in that area have ebbed. Buildings are now naked and activities can be seen with naked eyes by passers bye.

Then the urban surge for work in the Oil rich city introduced a new dimension to distort the private lives of the people! Every of the areas so mentioned exploded with certain accommodation demands rent went up council official could not cope such that in no time neighbouring villages soon developed to become an extension of Port Harcourt City. Now the city extensions are the Rumus Ogba, Omasi, Kurushi, Okoro, Meme, Ekpirikom the list is as ling as there are Miles 1 to almost infinity.

Governor Chibike Amechi arrived office in circumstances almost everyone now know, having had K-leg first and wining in court later. In his quest to meeting his dream Rivers state, he went on rampage with his developmental projects on Schools, Hospitals, new judiciary buildings, and roads among others. He achieved success in almost all these areas, but has been greatly sabotaged in road construction.

With a desire to give Rivers money to Rivers people, he went on to award choice contracts to Rivers people of all shades. Briefly the roads looked great. But hardly had the rains arrived that everyone got swept off with the earth! Eliopranwa, Eliozu St John almost all “new” roads went from bad to worse and now none existent!
The arrival of Gitto Construction was a great relief to all and sundry because everyone thought they would have all it takes to give the desired succor but it has proved not to be so, since they were awarded the contract for the construction of Ada George Road.

Ada George road is located at the mile 4 axis of Port Harcourt. It is a road of about 3/4 kilometer stretch cutting across the popular AGIP road, Iwofe road, Eliopraranwa road, serious neck at Kala junction and emptying into Shell location and NTA/Choba road at the western flank. In its state before it was approved for expansion/reconstruction, the road needed mild attention here and there and a few potholes were regular notice. It was in this state that the road was handed to Gitto Construction Company. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief that at last relief had come to the people to Rumuekprikom, Rumuem and Mgbuoba. It is not that the people did not expect some reasonable margin of discomfort, but it was expected to be bearable. Unless I am mistaking, Ada George road is not in a virgin forest needing tearing down of bush for fresh excavation of soil and their associate complications. That was first tared over twenty years ago. But it is a road facing reconstruction like Stadium, Ikwere, Olu Obasanjo roads to mention but a few, within the state capital. Before the arrival of Gitto Construction Company, other companies had executed construction job and some are still working within Port Harcourt even as I write. An example of their mode of operation is therefore visible as basis of comparison should one desire to, after reading this piece. Julius Berger was once in this state. Currently, MCC, Lubricks, Setraco and some other companies are working at several other sites. But this company is negligent in every sense of the word.

It is to be noted that companies no matter how big or small, owe its neighbours community responsibilities which is the reason they, have public relation officers or Community liaison officers as the case may be. Parts of their duties also are usually to liaise between the company and the community disseminating information necessary for their peaceful co-existence. But that seem not to be the case for the dwellers of Ada George. The necessity for good neighbourliness is that companies makes way for commuters and vehicle movements while executing their mouth watering contract. This company Gitto Construction Company, has torn the road to shreds and rendered it impassable. As of this moment of my writing, the losses incurred by vehicle owner, dwellers and passers bye at the Ada George by Iwofe Road, Eliopranwa junction, Kala junction, Roman's petrol station to mention a few is indescribable. Taking cognizance of the fact that St John to Ogbogoro, Eliopranwa, Mgbuakara and Rumuoke internal roads are currently impassable, yet they empty into Ada George leaving no one in doubt about the suffrage of everyone living in this environ.

The Governor of the state had in radio and TV interviews intervened, pleaded with the people for understanding especially during this rainy season. But what is moral to ask is “don't the contractor, and supervising ministry think that the people have right of way while construction is on going?” Lubricks is currently working on Olu Obasanjo Road. Before then, they had worked on Mile 2/3 Ikwere road both of which are extremely busy, but they never cause any traffic menses. There is expansion of Stadium road going on and no one is complaining as progress is daily noticed with regular shifts. Why can't Gitto take correction if the management does not know? Do they need a community gang up and unnecessary riot to visit their facility before they live up to their responsibilities?

When it rains in Port Harcourt and it pours, one certain feature is unavailability of transport for commuters, immobility for vehicle owners and worse still, no pedestrian right of way in an existing road! What manner of company is this? A company that cannot spend meager amount of money to make its territory passable while executing its job? How much would it cost her to fill the dilapidated junctions with hard core it produced from destroyed building? Are they waiting for a highly positioned government official to be maimed at one of the dead ends before they look for scape goats? How many trucks conveying Cement has lost their grip and caused unbearable hold up at Ada George/ Iwofe and Eliopranwa junctions alone? Why is it that Gitto cannot even create a lane no matter how small for passers bye?

As I write some optimists are certainly thinking that better days are coming because the rains are on their way out. No! The situation will remain. Just before the rains, the company could not sprinkle water on the same road causing everyone in the environ ill health. Soon to be seen are red roofs, dusty home appliances and other forms of suffrage associated with dry season construction.
As I close, I am using the opportunity of highlighting these ills to ask GITTO to rise up to the occasion and live up to their minimum corporate responsibilities for the betterment of all. If they fail, they will rather than count their profits, begin to pay for damages of various kinds. A word is enough for the wise.