BY SUNDAY EGEDE
DELTA State Government (DTSG) has assured Deltans that every part of the state would be carried along in the developmental strides of the Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori administration in the state.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Prince Johnson Erijo gave the assurance, yesterday, while addressing members of Concerned Youth for Good Governance (CYGG) who were in Asaba to register their displeasure over the Ukala/Okwute/Ezi-Ebu/Ukala/Okpunor Road project that cuts across Oshimili North and Aniocha North Local Government Areas of the state which, they said, have been abandoned.
Erijo,who addressed the youth body on behalf of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori at the Inter Bau Roundabout, Asaba, commended them for their peaceful disposition in registering their complaint over the road project.
He disclosed that Governor Oborevwori was properly disposed towards ensuring that every part of the state was carried along in his bold and strategic developmental strides aimed at expanding the frontiers of sustainable socio-economic growth and development across the state.
“I have taken note of your request and off course, the Governor will be proper briefed on the road project that you have come to complain about.
“There is no good construction that can be done at this particular time of the year because of the rainy season that we are in now but l can assure you that l have taken note of your request.
“You did not make request for so many things, you identified a strategic thing (need) which is the road that connects so many communities in the area; so, we are going to look at it .
“The Governor is well disposed and in no distant time, we will approach the dry season where the road will, by the grace of God, received the desired attention which you have requested for,” the Chief of Staff to the Governor added.
Earlier, the Convener, Concerned Youth for Good Governance (CYGG), Mr. Henry Umunna said they were in Government House, Asaba, to submit their petition and request for immediate action on the abandoned Ukala/Okwute/Ezi-Ebu/Ukala/Okpunor Road project.
Mr. Umunna noted that people in the area have suffered from the complete neglect of the critical road, adding that the route is a major lifeline that connects various communities to markets, schools, health care facilities and other essential services in the state.
He said the current state of the road has destroyed economic activities, noting that farmers cannot transport their produce to market, a situation which, according him, has led to losses and food wastage.
While saying that residents in the affected communities faced long and treacherous journey to access basic services because of the deplorable nature of the road, he noted that the poor state of the road has increased accidents and insecurity on the road.
Mr. Umunna said the poor state of the road had undermined development in the area as investors, traders and social services providers now avoid the route due to its terrible state.
“We, the Concerned Youth for Good Governance (CYGG), a coalition of grassroots youth leaders across Delta State, stand here today as law-abiding citizens exercising our democratic right to peaceful protest.
“Our presence is not to oppose your government but to draw urgent attention to pressing matter that directly affects the lives, economy and safety of thousands of Deltans – the abandoned Ukala/Okwute/Ezi-Ebu/Ukala/Okpunor Road project,” Mr. Umunna said.
The convener, therefore, appealed to the state government to immediately mobilise the contractors handling the project to site without further delay, adding that the project timeline should be made public.
He, also, harped on the need for effective monitoring of the project to ensure that the contractors execute the projects to meet standard specifications for long-term durability.
