Delta Road Projects: CSOs Community To Engineers, Citizens; Concern Stakeholders In Oshimili North & South, Make Safety Tools, Project Ownership Your Watchword.

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By Victor Bieni, Asaba

The facts finding, Road Monitoring and Evaluation success recorded by Delta Civil Society Community led by Deacon Okezi Odugala, other principal Executives of the Community alongside other Development Partners, SSA to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Civil Society and Civic Engagement, Activist Rex Anighoro, Delta State Ministry of Works in Aniocha South and North LGAs of the State were the first place of contact of CSOs Community during the exercise was extended to other 9 LGAs in Delta North and across the three Delta Senatorial Districts.

The Publishers of Shocknaija And Delta Uhuru Media were part of the trip, thereby witnessed the responses of Citizens, stakeholders, Community leaders, Engineers, Contractors and politicians in continuation of the visits of the Delta Civil Society Community and other Development Partners after Aniocha South and North LGAs experience as groups resumed in Oshimili North and South LGAs of Delta State to first cover Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State.

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The gesture continued as the Coordinator, CSOs Community, Dcn Okezi Odugala stated that it was part of the efforts of the Community to investigate the quality of Road projects under Governor Okowa’s administration starting from 2015 till date. In Oshimili North, the Roads in Illah Community were visited, inspected, and citizens interviewed by Delta State Civil Society Community.

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CSOs Community first declared State of Emergency and sent an SOS to the Federal Government on Illah -Asaba Road for urgent construction and rehabilitation, which Government has started intervention on after some days.

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The Community moved from thence to inspect the constructed/Rehabilitated 3km Okumege-Umute-Market-Ajaji Roads remaining 1km Road to complete it to the River Niger as the actual 4km done 3years ago as affirmed by the Immediate Past Community Youth President general of Illah Community, Comrade Emmanuel Ogochukwu and the then Site Engineer.

CSOs Community cautioned citizens on the need to take ownership of the projects, maintain and avoid blocking the Drainage system for easy flow of water. The citizens commended the exercise while thanking Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on the quality road projects. A businessman in the area, Mr. Ogadi Peter harped on the need for deeper drainages and other approaches for better control.

The Home branch President, Illah Development Union (IDUN), Mr. P. O Molokwu, IDUN Exco, Ogbuefi Barr. Rapu, The IDUN Vice President General, Ogbuenyi Mike Azubuike Ofili, The Community Women Leader, and Odaze of Illah Kingdom, Chief Mrs Sen. Arthur Nzeribe amongst other stakeholders on behalf of the Community’s National President, and VC Igbinedion University, Professor Ezemonye thanked the CSOs Community for the visit.

The Community leaders commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the quality and massive road projects in Illah, then called on Delta State Government to do more for the Economic Development of Illah Community as the epicentre of Oshimili North, LGA of Delta State.

Our correspondent also learnt that the Community leaders also used the medium to appeal to Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader, and Member Representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency to help the community equip her abandoned skills acquisition centre started by the former House of Reps Member Representing the Federal Constituency, Hon. Joan Mrakpor.

CSOs Community also visited the popular Circular- Hezua Roads constructed/Rehabilitated by a contracting firm, SAVIK INTEGRATED SERVICES LTD at Akwukwu-Igbo town, the headquarters of Oshimili North LGA.

Akwukwu-Igbo Community Youth President-General, other Residents of the town who spoke to our correspondent, applauded the quality of the Roads but noted that there is need for drainages and completion of the road to the end point. The Community Youth President-General promised the civil society Community that Akwukwu-lgbo Community will ensure that the Government projects; be it road or otherwise are being maintained and protected by the Youths.

In Oshimili South LGA, Asaba, Delta State capital, the SSA to Governor Okowa on Civil Society and Civic Engagement, Activist Rex Anighoro, Co-ordinator CSOs Community, and other Road projects monitoring and Evaluation Committee, and Officials of the Delta State Ministry of works first visited the popular WAEC Road by Okpanam Road, Asaba. A very strategic road where there are many Government and business offices in the area like CBN, ConOil Filling State, PDP party office, Hotels and others.

The Engineers and contractors were on ground during the visit and promised to create avenues and partner with stakeholders on the need for maintenance of drainages, ensure that quality and specifications on the Road projects are maintained. They also promised that workers on site would wear their PPEs regularly, as it was observed that the drainages were used as dumping ground by residents of the area and some of the workers on site were for one reason or the other, not putting on their PPEs.

SSA Civil Society and Civic Engagement, Activist Rex Anighoro alongside the CSOs Community coordinator then called on stakeholders; Community Leaders, Youths and Residents of the area, LG Council Chairmen, Ministry of Health and Environment and others to Partner with contractors and Engineers for the maintenance of the drainage system and Road projects in their area.

The contracting firms, LABTEB, SETRACO constructed/ Rehabilitated trunk A Roads, 2 layers Alsphalt consisting of about 150 metric tonnes with drainages on the two sides of the Roads to control erosion and flood problems awarded to the construction firm March 2020 with a distance of 560m phase 2, average width of 8m as the job is at Earth work stage.

Another Ongoing Road Projects was also visited at Ambassador Raph Uwuechie Road with a distance of 3.7km (560m, 195m, 185m) average width of 10m currently at Earth work. According to Engr. Bob Makpodia the Roads were originally Trunk B Roads but designed as Trunk A Roads.

The contracting company LABTEB constructed 2 side drains in the phase 1-3 with 2 Layers Alsphalt anticipated, a life cycle of 25 year’s has a thickness of 90mm, 150m stone base, the Roads are on Earth work stage from Akpu Junction to 74 Junction of Asaba. Some of the Residents also applauded the Roads projects. Comrade Abel John Gold, Journalist and resident of the area thanked the State Government for coming to their aid. Frank Ihowa appealed to the contractors, Engineers to hasten with the construction as the pace of the job is very slow. Some of the Chinese Engineers also promised to caution their workers on the need to always wear their PPE while on site.

The CSOs Community also visited the ongoing DESTMA Road, Off Maryam Babangida Way on Earth work stage with two- sided drains undergoing construction and Commended the workers and the construction firm, Sharp Stone Company as its workers adhered to safety tips. Some other citizens that spoke to our correspondent on the Road projects in Asaba included amongst others are Mr. Mike Efianya, A Youth Leader in Oshimili South LGA also applauded the State government for the link Roads constructed in Asaba and environs which he said is currently aiding Economic growth and development.

The CSOs Community also visited the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security matters, Mr. Cassidy Iloba who thanked Governor Okowa for constructing massive Roads and drainages in Asaba and Environs especially, roads named by him or after his name (CASLOBA Street).

The Governor’s aide stated that any citizen seen using the drainages as dumping ground will be sanctioned by task force as their duty is to maintain and not to desecrate the Environment, drainages, or the road projects.

Shocknaija and Delta Uhuru Media also interviewed Citizens in Asaba Metropolis, Residents of some Streets along Nnebisi Road, DLA Road, Oduke, Across Koka, Ogbeke, and Jesus saves axis to get their reactions on Governor Okowa’s Road Projects.

A Community Stakeholder, politician, hospitality guru and Aviation business expert, Hon. Chief Doughlas Okolotu also applauded Governor Okowa’s massive Road projects in Asaba Metropolis, Oshimili South, and environs.

He also commended the Governor on the Airport concessioning while he stated that the Privatization initiative will give room for revenue generation and towards economic growth and development as givernment is not good in managing businesses. Okolotu also Commended the CSOs group in Delta State enjoined the leadership to engage only the citizens on both the impacts of the Road projects towards sustainable development

Residents of Some Streets along Nnebisi Road, DLA Road and Jesus Saves axis who spoke to our correspondents applauded Delta State Government for the Job well done, quality of Road projects and drainages constructed in the area while stating that the gesture will boost commerce and industry in the State capital and Delta State in general.

While the residents of Oduke and Ogbeke, Across Koka Junction and others of Asaba metropolis appealed to Government to extends its Road construction Projects to the area for socio-economic development.

Ika, Ndokwa Federal Constituencies in Delta North Senatorial District; Okpe And Ethiope East LGAs, and others in Delta Central and Delta South Senatorial Districts’ Reports on the Delta Road Projects Mornitoring and Evaluation to be continued.

Thanks and God bless you all Richly.