Gov. Okowa tasks agency, contractor on Warri/Uvwie storm water drainage

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has urged the contractor and Warri/Uvwie Development Agency to fast track work on flood control project in the area.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, made this known while briefing newsmen on some of the decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting presided over by the governor in Asaba on Tuesday.

Aniagwu said that the government approved a number of road projects amongst others in line with its promise to continue to work till the end of the administration.

He said that the completion of the storm water drainage in the Warri area had become necessary to enable the construction and rehabilitation of roads that were in dire need of construction.

“A number of persons did not understand why we have not constructed some of the roads in Warri and its environs and we have tried to explain this many times.

“This is because flood will end up destroying the roads and possibly ravage all the homes along that channel.

“That is why we are investing huge sum of money to enable us control the flood in Warri and its environs by constructing the storm water drainage channel.

“We have explained this before now that because a number of these areas are heavily built and individuals over the years built on water ways,” he said.

The commissioner said it had become necessary to address the incursion along the natural waterways and also those who had undermined the town planning structure of Warri.

“So, the contractors have been given notice to take the project seriously to enable us address this flood challenge in parts of Warri,” he said.

Aniagwu further said that government awarded new roads contract and also approved upward review of some due to the prevailing rise in prices in the economy.

“Today, we have approved the construction of Alloy Agu Road; construction of Umudaie Road and Arewa St., from Ewulu Junction; all in Ika South Local Government Area of the state,” he said.

He said that the council mandated the  Ministry of Works to ensure that the contractor handling construction of Sector C2 of the Ughelli/Asaba Express road which spanned through Ogwashi-Uku to Koka Junction in Asaba, complete the work for inauguration before May 29.

Aniagwu noted that if not for the 2022 flood, the present administration would have completed the project from Asaba to Ughelli as planned initially.

According to him, the 2022 flooding destroyed construction works and undermined the efforts of work that was put in before that time.

“As such, we will continue with the entire project but we are optimistic that we will be able to deliver Sector C2 while Sector C1 and Sector A of the Ughelli/Asaba roads project may not proceed as fast because the rains are here,” he explained.

The commissioner expressed confidence that a number of projects would be inaugurated before the exit of the incumbent.

He, however, assured that the Governor -Elect, Chief  Sheriff Oborevwori, who had been a critical factor in the incumbent government would complete the ongoing projects and do more for the state.

(NAN)