Julius Berger Plc has promised to complete the Port Harcourt Road, Aba in Abia State on schedule.
The contract for the road is a three-lane carriage way with a total length of 5.7 km. It also includes the rehabilitation of Asa Road with laying of new binder and wearing course of about 1.1 km length with streetlight for the entire section.
The project manager, Christian Kloepfel, gave the details to include earthworks and storm water control among others on both sides of the road.
In a statement issued by the company, it said that by last week, the work on the main Port Harcourt Road, Aba was almost completed with concentration now on drainages and u-channels in the area at the Enugu-Port Harcourt highway junction.
Speaking on the project’s level, Kloepfel said, “We effectively employed 17 security personnel from the Aba community, demonstrating a strong commitment to local engagement and economic development. By hiring residents for security, the project benefits from their familiarity with the area, enhancing site safety while simultaneously providing valuable job opportunities to the community. This approach not only strengthens the project’s relationship with the local population but also aligns with the “Social” component of ESG standards, focusing on stakeholder engagement and community development.
Kloepfel continued, “The employment of a local indigene as the Public Relations Officer improved communication between the project team and the community, fostering trust. This strategy helps to mitigate potential social risks. These actions represent a best practice in sustainable project management, balancing operational needs with social responsibility, and should be upheld in future projects to ensure continued success and community support.
Put more succinctly, the Port Harcourt Road, Aba Project Management prioritised sustainable waste management by actively involving local communities and stakeholders. Through open consultations and documented agreement, Julius Berger gained the people’s consent to use a designated dump site for construction waste, while ensuring transparency and alignment with environmental and community needs. The Project Manager did not mince words in saying that, the waste was not only disposed of responsibly but also levelled and spread evenly to prevent environmental degradation. This collaborative approach highlights our commitment to managing waste in a way that respects both the environment and the local community, fostering long-term sustainability while adhering to regulatory standards.
Julius Berger equally carried out some CSR activities to further demonstrate its care for the operational community by grading of access road for National High School in Aba, provision of seats and tables for teachers in 15 classrooms at National High School, Aba, grading of access road for nearby Eziukwu village and donation of food items and toiletries to Ngwa Road Motherless Babies’ Home also in Aba.
