By Ovasa Ogaga,
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has praised Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for his commitment to developing key infrastructure projects across the state.
The NIPR Vice President, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, applauded the Governor’s proactive approach to constructing legacy projects, including federal road interventions, during a tour of several ongoing and completed projects.
As parts of activities of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations 2024 Directors Conference and Retreat with a theme "Leveraging Technology and Data-driven Insight for Digital Communications," which held at Asaba, the NIPR delegation took inspection that covered the Okpanam-Ibusa bypass, the dualization of the Ughelli-Asaba road, and the ongoing construction of flyovers at Enerhen Junction, PTI Junction, and DSC Roundabout.
Speaking at PTI Junction in Effurun, Prof. Dandaura, joined by council members Thelma Okoh and Paulinus Nsirim, emphasized the importance of such initiatives for seamless inter-state travel.
Led by State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, Prof. Dandaura further urged federal and state governments to continue collaborative efforts on infrastructure, noting that such synergies are critical for national connectivity and safety. He commended Julius Berger’s quality work, citing it as a model of durability and reliability in public infrastructure projects.
According to him, "we have driven about 128 kilometers since we left Asaba and you can see that roads are good and inspite of that, work is still going on to ensure that where we need bridges they are constructed and where we need to relay the road, it is being done.
[caption id="attachment_1851793" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Vice President Nigerian Institute of Public Relations NIPR, Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura (middle); Delta State Commissioner for Information, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza (right); Council Member, Thelma Okoh; Council Member, Paulinus Nsirim (left); Former Chairman South-South PDP, Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, (2nd left) with representative of the contractor at the Enerhen Junction flyover in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State on Thursday.[/caption]
"I am aware it’s a federal road, the truth of the matter is that every right thinking Governor knows that when people are driving through the state they are not thinking who owns the road but they will be asking is there no Governor in this state?
"So I am happy that Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori is one of those wise thinking Governors, he said.
Prof. Dandaura also added; "I want to believe too that the framework that has always existed between Federal Government and the states where they can do the projects and FG compensates, I believe that it still exists.
"I want to encourage the Federal Government to continue in that light because what the Delta State Government is doing in particular is to rescue the Federal Government.
"What is important is that both the Federal and State governments owe us Nigerians the responsibility to ensure that we can move from one place to the other in safety and also in motorable roads.
"This is what the Delta State Government is doing by standing in the gap and I commend Governor Oborevwori for this patriotic gesture.
"I am particularly happy with the quality of job that has been done. Yes, the contractor, Julius Berger is expensive but when you look around the country you know that they deliver long lasting projects and I think it is one of the reasons why Governor Oborevwori has invited them to the state.
"I encourage Julius Berger to sustain their corporate social responsibility so that the community can have a good impression of the company. We are very happy with what we have seen here today."
