Activist Faults Okowa Over Cable Point, Okpanam Road Projects

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa
Share this story.

From Matthew Ochei, Asaba

The people of Asaba and Okpanam communities have expressed their concern over the quality of work being carried out on roads in Nnebisi by Cable point and Okpanam.
An Asaba-based activist, Comrade Jude Onochie, said: “Governor Okowa told us before that the roads would not be constructed during raining season but throughout October and now November no rain, what is holding the work?
Onochie explained that the so-called contractors came and compounded the situation of the road, especially that of Cable Point, and left the site.
Hee also condemned the plan of the state government to tax borehole owners, stressing that it was the duty of government to provide potable water to the citizens before demanding for payment for the service.
“It is not done anywhere after you dig a borehole, you then pay money to government. Government can collect money for the service rendered to the people. Water is part of social amenities to been provided by government. After failing in its responsibility and people took it up themselves to provide water, now government wants to tax what it never provided.
“This was the same way the former Governor Uduaghan went into villages and asked old men and women to pay ground rent on houses that were left to them by their fathers. That policy failed but it is a similar policy Governor Okowa plans to bring to Deltans.
“This is not what Deltans need, we want to feel the impact of his government. This is the seventh month in office we have not feel the impact unlike other states like Abia, Rivers, Enugu where work has kicked off.”
Meanwhile, the state government has approved N6.8 billion for the construction of roads in Delta. Briefing newsmen yesterday on the outcome of the executive council meeting, Commissioner for Works, James Augoye disclosed that the meeting approved the fund and also approved the dismantling of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) lane in Warri.
According to Augoye, the dualization of Sapele road from Amukpe roundabout would gulp N2.056 billion, while the dualization of Nnebisi Road to Cable Point, Asaba will cost N1.076 billion.
Other roads projects are: Ozanogogo road phase II (N1.6999 billion); Ejiyeren/Akemu road (N169.2 million) and the main axial road, Okerenkoko (N121.3 million).
He said that there were other roads being constructed in different parts of the state and the that the contractors handling Section A of Ughelli/Asaba road and the Okpanam road projects have been directed to return to site as the rains had stopped.
Augoye stated further that dismantling the BRT lane in Warri was to ease congestion on the road and was done in line with the yearnings of the people in the vicinity of Warri and Effurun, adding that the road was also approved for expansion.
Also, Commissioner for Water Resources, Fedelis Tilije, said the executive council approved the Delta State Water and Sanitation policy to streamline all activities in the water sector and regulate government investment in the provision of portable water in the state as well as tax them.
He also stated that the multi-billion naira Warri/Effurun water project has been approved for concessioning to ensure that portable water runs in homes.
For over 16 years water has never ran in any home in Delta State apart from the private individual borehole.


Share this story.

Sponsored

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*