The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral  Ibok-Ete  Ibas, has expressed disappointment over the slow pace of work at the Rivers State House of Assembly (RSHA) Complex project located along Moscow Road in Port Harcourt.

Ibas described the progress as “grossly abysmal, and falling far below expectations,” when he inspected the project site on Friday.

He also inspected key sporting facilities, including the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, and the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, to assess their readiness for hosting sporting events.

Ibas,  in a statement signed by the Senior Special Adviser on Media, Rivers State Government, Hector Igbikiowubo, insisted that the contractor’s performance was unacceptably slow, contrary to agreed timelines.

He said, “On the performance level right now, I think the contractor needs to do more. And from the reports rendered by the consultants, they are not moving fast enough, and that is not good enough. I am not satisfied with what I have seen. The pace of work is far below acceptable standards, and this is simply not good enough,” he declared.

To address the delays, Ibas issued a firm directive to the contractor to immediately intensify efforts and expedite work to meet the project’s deadline.

“This project is of strategic importance, and any further delays will not be tolerated. We must all commit to doing what is necessary to meet the expectations of the people,” he said.

The administrator disclosed that he would summon the contractor for a crucial meeting to realign efforts and ensure all parties were fully committed to delivering the project promptly.

During his inspection of sporting facilities, Ibas highlighted the outstanding performances of Rivers youths in national and international competitions, stressing the need for modern, well-maintained infrastructure to nurture their talents.

He said: “I  just went to check and see the state of those facilities. We have our state’s team participating in continental tournaments, yet we have to travel outside the state for our matches. I am sure we can do something to ensure we benefit locally. That’s precisely why we are here—to see what we can do,” he stated.

The administrator reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to revitalising sports infrastructure to provide athletes with world-class training facilities, keeping them competitive on the global stage.

The Rivers State Government remains resolute in its pursuit of infrastructure excellence, accountability, and timely project delivery. The Administrator’s intervention underscores his commitment to good governance, youth development, and the overall progress of the state.