By Festus Ahon
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has continued to show his dexterity and passion for the development of the State through his M.O.R.E. Agenda, as he completes one month on the saddle as the state’s chief executive.
On Monday, June 26, while inspecting the ongoing construction of Phases I and II of the Warri/Effurun Storm Water Control Projects in Warri South and Uvwie local government areas, the governor ordered the demolition of all buildings erected along waterways in the state.
Oborevwori, who was miffed by reports of buildings built on natural waterways and causing flooding in parts of the state, said there was no place in the world where people were allowed to build on waterways and directed the Ministries of Housing, Works and Lands to identify and pull down all such buildings to allow free flow of water on natural waterways.
Oborevwori said: “We started the inspection with Phase II of the Storm Water Drainage Project being handled by CCECC. They have five catchment areas. We have looked at their works and realised that they have done a lot as they have gone very far.
“They have some obstacles and we also looked at what is causing the obstacles and got to know that there are some buildings on natural waterways, which is causing obstructions and slowing down the speed of work being done by the construction firm.
“We assured the contractors that all the buildings on the waterways, both in Phase I and Phase II, will be brought down by the state government to enable them finish their work seamlessly. “They have assured us that they need 21 days for some of the areas they have opened, that are causing gridlock, to be properly fixed and the drainage crossing Airport Road by Fani Kayode was casted on Saturday and they need about 19 days for that area to be fixed also.
“On Phase I of the project, there are a lot of buildings on the waterways and I have directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Works to liaise with the Ministry of Lands to see how those buildings on water ways can be brought down to enable the construction firm have unfettered access to do their work,” the governor said.
Warri Stadium
Governor Oborevwori, who also visited the Warri City Stadium, expressed dissatisfaction with the work being done by the contractor. He said he would study the contract to ensure prompt and quality delivery of the project.
“l came here to see what the contractor handling the project has done and I am not too satisfied with what the contractor has done. “But the contractor said what they are doing is according to the scope of the contract awarded to them.
So, we are going to look at the contract and see what can be done to ensure speedy and quality delivery of the project. “Some of the areas that are not properly scoped will be rescoped. We want the best for Warri and this is the Warri City Stadium,” he said.
Trading on highway
On his way back to Asaba, Governor Oborevwori and his entourage made a stopover at the popular and ever busy Otovwodo Junction, Ughelli, where he ordered the relocation of a private motor park and traders along the road.
He lamented that their activities over the years had caused untold hardship to motorists, adding that the government had concluded plans to relocate the market.
According to him: “We are planning something there but when you are planning you need to go and see the place and I saw a motor park at that junction and that’s not acceptable at all. “Trading on the road is also not acceptable; you can see the risk involved in trading on the express road.
“Last week, we met with His Majesty, the Ovie of Ughelli, the Council Chairman and the President General and we discussed all these and that market needs to be relocated from that place because it is causing a serious gridlock.
“I have directed the Council Chairman to ensure that the motor park is relocated from that place and those trading on the road need to move.
“There is somewhere we have prepared for them and we have an issue of access roads but I have also directed the Ministry of Works to come up with a proposal to enable us to have access roads to the new market.”
Completion of Isheagu-Ewulu Road/ bridge
Governor Oborevwori also inspected the ongoing construction of Isheagu-Ewulu Road and bridge, in Aniocha South Local Government Area, where he expressed satisfaction with the work done by the contractor, assuring that the project would be ready for inauguration in September.
“I am satisfied with the work done so far and the beauty of this road is that it connects two communities and coming from Isheagu to Ewulu you see the old bridge has collapsed so this new bridge is a saving grace for these two communities.
“The contractor has assured that by the end of August the entire bridge and 9.1km of road would be due for inauguration,” he stated.
Transformer for 1st Marine Gate residents
Residents of 1st Marine Gate in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area of the State, Monday, jubilated as the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori approved the provision of a brand new transformer for the community.
Oborevwori, who gave the approval during an inspection of the Storm Water Control Project in the area, said the transformer would be delivered to the area through the Council Chairman in two weeks. The governor gave the approval following complaints by the residents of over two years’ power outage in the area.
Speaking to journalists in Warri, Oborevwori said: “I actually went there for inspection and the residents said they have a transformer challenge and a transformer is something we can actually order. “I assured them that within two weeks they will get the transformer delivered to them through the Warri South Council Chairman.”
Residents of the locality, who could not hide their joy, expressed gratitude to Governor Obor- evwori for being sensitive to their plight, praying God to continue to use him to do greater things for the people of the state.
Speaking on the development, Chairman, Warri South Local Government Council, Dr Michael Tidi lauded Governor Oborevwori for the transformer donation and commended him for the renewed vigour to transform Warri and environs.
“I must thank our dear Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for listening to the cries of the people and it’s a testament to the fact that he is ready to match words with action. Delt- ans, particularly people of Warri South Local Government Area, should brace up for better days ahead.
“Governor Oborevwori is a ‘Warri Boy’ and I have no doubt that the Warri of our dream is not far away, with him on the saddle. I was part of his delegation that just went round Warri to inspect the storm water drainage project being constructed by the state government.
“I am upbeat that the project execution would be accelerated in the days ahead as the governor is very keen on the completion in record time,” Tidi said.
Meanwhile, Governor Oborevwori, has delivered a 500KVA transformer he promised to donate to residents of First Marine Gate, Warri, Warri south local government area.
The transformer was delivered to the community through the Council Chairman, Hon. Michael Tidi. Recall that Oborevwori who visited the area to inspect storm water drainage project last week Monday was dumbfounded to hear of over two-years blackout occasioned by damaged transformer.
