Amori urges Deltans to maintain spirit of fairness in political dealings

Delta Govt Assures On Completion Of Ayakoromo/Egbo-Ideh Bridge Project

FOR communities living within the surroundings of Ayakoromo/Egbo – Ideh bridge, their long years of waiting for the completion of the bridge will soon be over. The Delta State government has reassured them of its commitment to the completion of the bridge within the shortest possible time.

The reassurance was given by the Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Kingsley Emu, during a meeting held at Asaba with a coalition of civil society groups/riverine communities within the Ayakoromo bridge area.

Giving a synopsis of the Ayakoromo/Egbo-Ide bridge project, the Commissioner stated that the project entails the construction of a 612 metres long bridge across the Forcados River with 200 metres of approach road at a total cost of N6.5 billion. The sum of N3.1 billion has been paid to date and the overall completion of the project to date is 32%.

Dr Emu emphasized the importance of the project to the government while informing the gathering that the stoppage of work was due to the drastic shortfall in revenues to the state government occasioned by both external and internal factors in the oil market.

The Commissioner assured the group that with the resumption of activities at Forcados terminal and the current trend of oil prices in the global market, government was optimistic about improved funding.

Appreciating the group for choosing the path of peace and dialogue, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba, Hon. Tam Brisibe, on behalf of the government team stated that government was aware of the plight of those living in the affected communities, emphasizing the government of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is very interested in the development of riverine communities and that can be confirmed through ongoing projects in Burutu, Ogulaha and Oporoza, promiseing that the Governor will not fail on his promise concerning the bridge.

Earlier, the members of the Coalition had advocated for the immediate resumption of work on the bridge through supplementary budget as this will reassure the communities who voted massively for the governor since this will make them work more for the governor’s re-election as well as give them a sense of belonging.

The group also advocated more government presence in the riverine areas in other to open up the place for accelerated business and development noting that a lot of commercial activities including oil exploration and production, farming and aquaculture abound in the area.

Other members of the government team were the Commissioner of Works, Chief James Augoye, and the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Engr. Fred Edafioghor.

Meanwhile, members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) at home and in the diaspora, including those who left the party but are now getting ready to return, are poised to redouble efforts at reclaiming the Presidency in 2019.

To achieve this, the party members are also to strengthen the bond of unity amongst them and further develop on their spirit of equity and fairness.

This was made public by the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, while speaking during a Ward 9, Okpanam, youth meeting of the PDP in the area on Friday.

He disclosed that the success of the last non elective convention of the party organized by a committee headed by the state Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, in Abuja was a manifestation that peace had returned to the party, which is now well positioned to reclaim the Presidency in 2019.

Mr. Ukah told the people to continue to support the government of the state under the leadership of Senator Okowa, who has the welfare of the people as a top priority.

The commissioner assured that work will resume on the Okpanam road project as soon as the raining season is over and disclosed that apart from the new Secondary School, Oruchi Comprehensive High School, which was recently approved for the town by the state government, renovation work on class room blocks at Mgbala Primary School and Okpanam High School, are ongoing.

This is in addition to the 2.6 kilometre Ogbe Osade-Okotomi road project that work will begin immediately the dry season sets in, adding that other developmental programmes meant for them are also in the pipeline.

Mr. Ukah said that these projects are not limited to Okpanam alone but also are scattered all over the local government areas in the state.

He thanked them for their support for the present administration and reminded them that PDP has been the dominant party in the area and will continue to be so during and after the 2019 general elections.