Uduaghan Explains Delay in Road Construction in Delta State, Promises More Infrastructure

Uduaghan who made the pledge at a press conference in Asaba , called for patience and understanding, explaining that the early rains slowed down pace of work on road projects in the state.

“We keep talking about climate change; it is seriously affecting our projects because no good contractor will like to lay asphalt during the rain.

“The rain came much earlier this year and it is slowing down the progress of projects especially the construction of roads,” the Governor said, disclosing that the flooding on Okpanam/ Asaba road has necessitated a change in the design of the drainage and construction of the road, which he said would be dualized.
While conceding that it would be impossible for his administration to carry out all infrastructural projects, especially roads and rehabilitation of schools, the governor urged critics to be constructive in their assessment of his administration’s achievements.

Delta State he said has about 1,600 public secondary and primary schools, explaining that his administration’s policy had been comprehensive construction of schools instead of picking out blocks of classrooms. A good number of the schools, he said have been constructed with contract also awarded for some other ones, adding that where a school is in dire need of classroom blocks, the government may be forced to provide one or two as a stop gap pending when such a school would be completely rebuilt in line with his administration’s policy.

Uduaghan used the occasion to assure people of the State that the Delta Broadcasting Services (DBS) in Asaba and Warri and their relay station in Ubulu-Uku were being given facelift to meet with the Federal Government policy on digitalisation of all electronic media houses by 2015. He explained that when completed, the two stations would be synchronised into one network.

Meanwhile, the governor indicated that a Judicial Commission of Inquiry will be set up to proffer lasting solution to the age-longed Iselegu/Ibabu communal crisis.

“Iselegu/Ibabu communal crisis is over, we mobilised security agencies that have stopped the fight and they are recovering their arms and ammunition,” the Governor said. He added, “we are going to set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to find out the origin of the crisis and proffer lasting solution,” emphasising that it was wrong for anybody to engage in actions that were inimical to the society.

While observing that the security situation in the state has greatly improved with very few incidence of kidnapping and armed robbery, Governor Uduaghan revealed that he has met with host communities of the $16 billion Gas City project, adding that the community has resolved not to engage in any action that could derail the project.

He reiterated his call on Deltans to be vigilant against any form of terrorism, advising that people should know their neighbours by knowing what they are doing, their sources of livelihood and their behaviour asserting, “we should propagate and imbibe the spirit of know your neighbour.”

“We need to be vigilant, any abandoned vehicle or anything that we are not comfortable with we should please raise alarm and report to security agencies,” the Governor said, observing that because of the security challenges been witnessed in some parts of the country, there was an influx of people to Delta State.

According to him, “we still have challenges of terrorism in some parts of the country with its effects being felt by everybody. Beyond that, we have an increase in the number of persons internally displaced. For those who will not give us security challenges, we will manage them, but those who entered the country illegally and pose security challenges will be fished out by the Immigration.”

Edited by Omamurhomuapho Thomas