Director-General (DG), Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency (WUEDA), Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, has reiterated that the master drainage project for the area was ongoing as scheduled.
Comrade Macaulay, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who fielded questions from journalists in Warri, after a visit to the project sites said he was encouraged with the pace of work done.
“When you go round the area where these jobs are currently ongoing, you will see the excitement in the faces of the people. For once, we are not having any problem with the communities because they are happy, they see the job as their own. Nobody is really disturbing the job we are doing today.
“The areas where work has been done meaningfully, are no longer suffering the flooding issue. The communities are happy because most of them are already benefiting from it,” he stated.
According to him, phases one and two are billed to be completed between 18 and 24 months, pointing out that there is hope for the people of Warri/Uvwie axis, reassuring that in the next three to five years, they may not be talking of flood.
He maintained that this was the first time the state government has taken deliberate measures to tackle the issue of flooding in the area and commended the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, for his commitment to solving the perennial flood challenge.
Macaulay disclosed that those whose buildings and structures are located on the waterways have been notified, and that towards the end of August, the Agency would commence the removal of such illegal structures.
Also speaking, the Programme Manager, Levant Construction Limited, Engr. Ghassan Fadel, hinted that they would soon stop major works due to the heavy down pour, stressing that the swampy nature of the area aggravated by the heavy rains, have been a hindrance to their speed and set target.
The project sites visited include Ugbolokposo, Alegbo, Uti, Apala, NPA Expressway and Edjeba in Warri South and Uvwie local government areas, where he expressed satisfaction and commended the contractors handling the projects, Levant Construction Limited and CCECC for their efforts in spite the rains and the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
