Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has intensified efforts to tackle chronic congestion in Port Harcourt with the reconstruction of the Creek Road Market, setting January 2027 as the delivery date for the project.
During an inspection visit on Tuesday, the governor positioned the three-phase market development as a strategic intervention aimed at restoring order to the old township, where years of overcrowding forced traders onto the roads, disrupting traffic and slowing infrastructure upgrades.
The new market, planned in three sections, is expected to provide a structured and more conducive trading environment, effectively relocating commercial activities away from the streets and supporting ongoing road rehabilitation works.
Fubara, who was conducted round the site by Architect Opiribo West of E.S.T Masters Construction, alongside the Commissioner for Special Projects, Hon. Tonye Belgam, expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far.
Speaking with journalists after the tour, the governor said the project was conceived as a necessary step to unlock stalled road construction within the Creek Road axis.
“You are aware that we did promise our people that all the roads in town will be fixed.
”But we had a very serious issue because of the Creek Road section of the township roads. Because of not having adequate space to accommodate the traders in the market, they extended their activities into the road and that became a serious issue for our construction work.
“So we decided that for us to deliver a better project that would impress our people, we must, as a matter of fact, embark on building a better and more comfortable market for our people,” he said.
Providing an update on construction phases, Fubara noted that work is actively ongoing in Section A, while Section B is set to commence shortly.
He added that Section C requires more technical preparation due to its location on a former borrow pit.
“As you are aware, we’ve been here once to check the activities of the contractor.
”Today, I’m here to see for myself the extent of work that is ongoing. And I feel very happy that they are doing a very good job.
“They just informed me that the market is divided into three sections: Section A, Section B and Section C.
”The A is the one we just saw here that they’ve already started from the ground.
”This B section is the other side which they will start soon, while the C section is the one that they discovered was a borrow pit.
“And you know, you can’t build on top of a borrow pit. So we had to do evacuation and filling.
”I believe that once those things are done, the other part of the market will also commence.
”They even assured me that the timeline I gave to them for January, they are going to deliver the project fully for our people to use,” he added.
The governor stressed that the investment goes beyond building a market, describing it as a key part of his administration’s urban renewal drive and a commitment to delivering lasting infrastructure.
When completed, the Creek Road Market is expected to ease traffic congestion, improve trading conditions, and accelerate the transformation of Port Harcourt’s commercial landscape.
