Delta approves 11 roads, moves to stop brain-drain

TRACKING____Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has approved the immediate construction of no fewer than 11 new roads across the three senatorial districts of the state.

The roads include Oniore/High Court road, Orerokpe; Obi Azikwuo Street, Boji Boji, Owa; Alika Street in Boji Boji, Owa; Ogbeima internal roads in Bomadi Local Government Area and the phase four of the Okerenkoko township road.

Others are the Pamol Road in Ethiope West Local Government Area; construction of additional drains at the Ekwuoma/Umunede road, which had already been completed; the phase four of the DDPA road, Agbor in Ika South LGA; Igbite Street, Staff Quarters in Okpe Local Government Area; reconstruction and resurfacing of Alihame/Agbonta/Oki road and Tete road at Boji Boji, Owa in Ika North East LGA.

The state Commissioner for Works, James Aguoye, supported by the Commissioner for Youths Development, Mr. Ifeanyi Egwuyenga and the Information Commissioner, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, yesterday while addressing reporters on the outcome of the state’s Executive Council meeting in Asaba, the state capital, said the contracts were awarded based on the available financial resources to the state.

Aguoye, who explained that the protest over non-completion of the Abari/Asaba-Ase Road was uncalled for, however, appealed to the people of the area to give peace a chance, saying: “The projects that could be paid for by the government were awarded because the process for the award of contracts is well-planned.

“The Abari/Asaba-Ase Road was not abandoned. The contractor can only move equipment to the site through Uzere federal road, which is in a very bad shape.

The governor has requested for what it will take to carry out remedial work on the federal road to enable the contractor access it.”

Meanwhile, Egwuyenga said the governor was committed to discouraging brain-drain and influx of migration from the state by taking critical look at meeting with the youths and rural dwellers, with a view to stepping up local government domiciled programmes.

On his part, Aniagwu also reiterated the determination of the Governor Okowa-led administration to stop irregular migration of the youths under the guise of seeking greener pasture in places with no guaranteed security and assurance of better living conditions.