DELTA STATE GOVERNMENT TO EMBARK ON MASSIVE ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION

The administration of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the Governor of Delta State is set to embark on massive road construction and rehabilitation to speed up the delivery of prosperity to all Deltans.

“Without good roads, it will be impossible for prosperity to be delivered,” the Chief James Augoye, the Commissioner of Works, Sir Fidelis Tilije, Water Resources Development, Hon. Chiedu Ebie, Basic Education and Mr. Ehiedu Aniagwu, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, disclosed this in a joint press briefing on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held at the new Government House, Asaba.

During the press briefing the Commissioners stated that the Executive Council approved the construction of a modern market at Orerokpe.

Chief Augoye specifically said, “the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa during his campaign made promises and he is in a haste to see that the campaign promises are actualized within the shortest possible time within the limited resources available to the state in line with the SMART (Strategic wealth creation initiative and provision of jobs for all, Meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political/social stability, Agricultural reforms and industrialization, Relevant health and education policies and Transformed environment through massive urban renewal) agenda."

"We are aware that there is no way the SMART agenda can be actualized without having effective and sustainable road networks across the state, especially in the area of wealth and job creation," he asserted, reiterating that the Governor Okowa's administration has commenced moves in ensuring that the roads are worked on.

He disclosed that during the executive council meeting, approval was given for the dualisation of "Nnebisi Road from the Traffic Light to Cable Point which terminates at the Bank of the River Niger," adding, "this road is going to be in two phases, the first phase is from Nnebisi Road to the Cable Market which is about 1.71 kilometre and from the market to the River Niger is going to be a single carriage road."

The Commissioner emphasized that the dualisation of the road had become urgent, "due to the heavy commercial activities taking place and in order to make the area more accessible, there is real need to make the road a dual carriageway.”

The Commissioner said that the State government was poised to immediately address erosion menace across major towns and cities in the state.

On the construction of a modern market at Orerokpe, Chief Augoye said, "the state executive council also approved the construction of a modern market at Orerokpe and the market will have one hundred and ninety six (196) open shops, twenty eight (28) lock up shops, four offices, sixteen toilets, one cold room and one storage room."

He further said, "the construction of the market will be carried out by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry while the dualisation of the Traffic Light to Cable Market will be done by the Ministry of Works."

Sir Tilije informed Journalists that EXCO also approved the rehabilitation and upgrading of a twenty-bed cottage hospital at Azuowa, Abavo, saying, "this project was first awarded in 2004 and since then, it has been overgrown by bushes and EXCO also, approved the bringing back of 130 youths who are undergoing training in different fields of human endeavour at Trinidad and Tobago and Babados on successful completion of their training so that they can share their experiences."

"You will recall that in the past six weeks, Governor Okowa's administration have been requesting for application from the youths and farmers to come and take part in the wealth creation exercise, the first tranche will empower 6, 000 Deltans within six months have been approved by the EXCO," Sir Tiliije said.

At the briefing, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Ebie stated, "EXCO approved three memo's for the upgrade and procurement of educational equipment for the Technical Colleges in Agbor, Ofagbe and Sapele, they are spread across the 3 senatorial districts on the state, we all know the benefits of technical and vocational education because it helps to train our youths and also assure them of a better future."

"Sadly these technical colleges which are located across the State have been in state of decay to the extent that the buildings were non-existent and everything had deteriorated, in line with the SMART agenda and to ensure that our people are properly equipped, the Governor had identified these colleges but , due to paucity of funds, only three Colleges can be attended to at this time and they will be done in phases," he said, adding, "there will be an upgrade of the existing facilities which includes the classroom blocks, the workshops, residential accommodation for principals and hostels, there will be procurement of equipment, machines and everything that will be needed to teach the students."