Niger Delta
Delta Agro-Industrial Park Ready, Nov
Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa yesterday, said the Agro-Industrial Park being executed by his administration at Aboh-Ogwashi, Aniocha South Local Government Area, would be ready for inauguration in November 2022.
Speaking with journalists shortly after inspecting ongoing works at the park, the governor, who said that the contracting firm had assured the completion of the project, explained that the project was necessary to enhance the development of the state’s agro potential.
He said that basic infrastructure was being put in place at the park to meet the completion targets and lauded the host community for support and cooperation for the project “which holds a lot for mutual benefits for the community and investors”.
“Let me appreciate the level of cooperation we have had with the Ogwashi-Uku community because they gave us over 180 hectares of land for the Agro-Industrial Park.
“We thought the park was necessary because of the need to help develop our agricultural potential in this state and the Park is actually meant for agro-processing and we are using rice mill as the nucleus of the industrial production coming up in this place. But many other agro-industry processing facilities and industries are supposed to come in here and you can see that there are already mapped out commercial plots ready for allocation for companies that want to come in.
“The basic infrastructure at the centre is already being put in place, not just for the rice mills; you have service quarters, warehouses and many other things that are going to come in, including the source of power.
“The most important thing about this park is the river which means that we are able to provide irrigation services all year round from that river. I have drawn their attention to the need to start the road development in the park because of the rainy season that is about to set in because that’s the only setback they are likely going to have.
“The contractor has promised to deliver the project towards the end of November which means if they start the road project now, they will still have time during the break-in in August and in the latter part of October to finish with the road project,” Okowa said.
He pointed out that establishing a rice factory in the park would help to encourage out-growers across the state to help feed the rice mill and engender a direct positive impact on Deltans. “The process of encouraging out-growers and giving them rice seedlings that are very high-yielding and with agricultural extension support services that will be provided to our people will definitely impact directly on the families that will be engaged in the rice farming.
“This will help to create jobs and multiply the family income of the communities around Ogwashi-Uku and even across the entire state. We are also expecting that many other agro-processing companies will come in place and that will begin to stir up developments in other areas beyond rice. The park is a community of its own where you have various agro-processing industries co-sharing common facilities for agro-industrialisation in the state,” he stated.
On the Kwale Industrial Park, the governor said that it had suffered delay because of Covid-19 but expressed optimism about making it a free trade zone. He said that the state government was working with the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment to designate the park as an Export Processing Zone.
“The Kwale Industrial Park is supposed to be a gas-based park and we had a lot of setbacks because of COVID-19. For two years we have not been able to progress because not many investors are ready at the moment to come invest as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We travelled to China and we had firm commitments concerning gas-based industries but unfortunately, they were not in the mood to move our because as soon as we came back within two months the COVID-19 set in and till today they haven’t visited. We are also working with the Minister of Trade and Investment with the Export Processing Zone to see how we can turn that whole area into a free trade zone.
“We are working on that at the moment and we are setting the groundwork for the next administration to take off fully. We are doing the initial fencing and there is a lot of work ongoing and recently one of the companies in Delta has spoken to us to move to that area and we are working on giving them 20 hectares of land. Once we are able to attract one major company to that place it will stir up more companies to come,” he said.
In separate interviews with journalists, the traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Obi Ifechukwude Anishi Okonjo ll and the Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Council, Mr Jude Chukwuwike, described the project as a landmark effort of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. While saying that the project would revolutionise the agro-potential of the state economy, they charged the contracting firm to redouble efforts with a view to delivering the project on time in line with the contractual agreement.
The governor was conducted around the various departments of the Park by the Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Professor Eric Eboh, and Project Consultant, Mr Kester Ifeadi. The project sitting over 180 hectares of land on completion, will have a rice factory, warehouses, packing house, cold storage area, offices, laboratories, guide centre, gas station, garage, storage rooms, workers’ residential areas, water house, sewage treatment plant and other agro-processing units.
The Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot, has called for regular release of funds to the judiciary to ensure effective dispensation of justice.
Obot made the call recently while speaking at the opening of the 2024/2025 legal year in Uyo.
The Chief Judge said the judiciary in Akwa Ibom State had been grappling with debts arising from non-release of funds in 2023.
She said the judiciary required adequate funding to perform optimally, saying, “we need funds to maintain our facilities across the hierarchy of courts in the state”.
Obot further stated that the state judiciary was hugely under-staffed, and required more manpower.
“The last recruitment into the state judiciary was done in 2012. There is need to address the issue of shortage of staff in the system.
“Shortage of staff has made us to assign only one staff to cover duty schedules that are meant for two or three persons.
“Within the last two years, no fewer than 316 staff have retired from the state judiciary without replacement.
“When retirement goes on for many years without regular replacement, many skills and competences will be lost”, she said.
The Chief Judge decried the absence of basic educational facilities in correctional centres in state.
She suggested the establishment of adult education facilities within the correctional centres to support the education needs of inmates.
“Inmates require basic primary, secondary education and skills acquisition facilities to earn the needed reform”, she said.
In his remarks, the State Governoe, Umo Eno, assured the judiciary of the state government’s support and cooperation to enhance effective dispensation of justice.
Eno commended the Chief Judge and the judiciary in the state for their steadfastness and commitment to justice delivery.
The Tide’s source reports that a special court session was held during the event to signal the commencement of new legal year.
Delta State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, has said the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, was determined to deliver quality road projects to all Deltans across the State.
The Commissioner, who spoke recently during an inspection of projects in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas of the state, said Governor Oborevwori was desirous to ensure that Deltans get value for every money spent on projects in the state.
The projects inspected include Central Hospital Road, Warri; Edo Guest House Road, Ekpan; Ogbetuo Avenue, Effurun; Rehabilitation and construction of Bright Hope Street with spurs to Okiemute Street, and Senator James Manager Street, Off Airport Road, Effurun, and Uti Road, Effurun.
Izeze, who paid unscheduled visits to the various project sites, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done thus far by the various contractors, assuring that Governor Oborevwori’s promise to revamp Warri and environs was becoming a reality.
“I am very satisfied with the work being done at the places we have visited so far. As you can see, the visits were not scheduled, the contractors were not expecting us because I did not call any of them.
“We decided to take them unawares in the hope that probably some of them may have decided to go on vacation. Right from the Central Hospital where the drains are being extended to discharge water into the natural waterways for the road to be reasphalted.
“We are satisfied that the contractor was on site and working according to specifications as provided for in the Bills of Engineering Measurement (BEME).
“So also the contractor handling Ogbetuo Avenue, Effurun, when we got there even though they were not physically on site, we noticed that they have done the binder course waiting for the finishing course to be applied and I can certify that the quality of work done are good enough”, he said.
At Bright Hope Street with spurs to Okiemute Street and James Manager Street, the Commissioner said he visited to see the level and quality of work that has been done, especially considering the fact that the contractor was raising his final certificate.
“For me as a matter of principle and following the Governor’s directive, any job that requires certification, will need my physical presence to inspect and ensure that government is getting value for money spent.
“As Governor Oborevwori has promised Deltans, he intends to extract value for every money spent on every job that is done and he insists on quality supervision.
“As you all know, supervision and management is key to most of our projects because contractors are capitalists, if you leave them they will want to make the highest profit as possible. So we go back and certify that the job is satisfactory”, he noted.
At Uti Road, Effurun, the Commissioner, who met the contractor excavating the ground and sand filling with white sharp sand as provided in the BEME, took measurements of the depth and expressed satisfaction with the contractor for following specifications.
“As you can see, the contractor is on site and doing the job according to specification and we do hope that they speed up their pace so that as soon as the rains abate, they can get the road ready for inauguration.
“We are optimistic of its completion soonest so that all the residents and adjoining streets that this strategic road feeds will heave a sigh of relief.
“They will also appreciate the fact that Governor Oborevwori’s promise to give Warri and environs a facelift is now coming to reality right before their very eyes”.
On Edo Guest House Road, Ekpan, Izeze said, “the job has been completed and you can see the quality of work that has been done, the job has been completed.
“I am very elated that the residents are happy with the completion. All through the period we visited on inspection, the residents had always asked us to convey their appreciation to Governor Oborevwori because they had thought the road would never be completed.
“You can see how elated they were and that is the essence of governance. When you are able to put smile on the face of someone who does not need to have access to you to have development brought to their door step.
“I felt very fulfilled because the essence of governance is public service and when you service the public and they appreciate it, its quite exciting”.
By: Albert Ograka, Asaba
Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on security operatives to investigate the state’s Commissioner for Power, Engr. Komuku Kharim over alleged terror attacks at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Briefing newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting of the party’s State Executive Council, Chairman of the party, Barr. Dennis Otiotio, alleged that as a fallout of the recent suspension of some erring members of the party by their Wards and Local Government Areas, thugs believed to be loyal to the Commissioner launched mayhem and unwarranted attacks at the party’s State Secretariat.
Otiotio faulted the Commissioner, describing it as “political rascality taken too far”.
The Tide learnt that the Bayelsa State chapter of the APC recently suspended 10 of its members, including the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, over alleged anti-party activities.
Leadership of the party, which also bared its mind on the membership status of the suspended Minister and others, noted that the State Working Committee (SWC) was planning a possible review or ratification of the suspension within timelines, saying as party faithful, it was expedient that all members work together for the progress and unity of the party in accordance with the renewed hope mantra of President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We call on the Nigerian Police and other security formations to institute an investigation on the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Power, Engr. Komuku Kharim, and call him and his thugs to order.
“This morning, Monday 14th October, 2024, thugs and other hoodlums believed to be loyal to him stormed the APC State Secretariat in their numbers with the intent to maim party faithful and cause unwarranted destruction.
“The recent suspension of some erring members of the party, including the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (oil), and others wasn’t carried out by the party’s State Executive Council, but by the wards and LGAs chapters of the suspended members.
“As a party, we’ve conducted ourselves within the ambits of the law. The APC is a party that believes in the rule of law and order. It’s on record that the said Commissioner until his recent appointment by the Governor Douye Diri’s administration has been allegedly enmeshed in several anti-party activities.’’
“Rather than direct his grievances to the appropriate party authorities and other available dispute resolution mechanisms within the party, Engr. Komuku instead chose to unleash mayhem on the party’s secretariat and members”, the APC said.
In the same vein, the lawmaker representing Southern-Ijaw constituency 4 in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor-Ben Selekaye, has charge the party’s faithfuls and the general public to discountenance rumours that the present State Working Committee of the party has been sacked by the court.
He said it became necessary to correct the erroneous believe as, according to him, that matter has been resolved by organs of the party at all levels, noting that the party was looking forward to an expanded state working committee meeting were all stakeholders will be in attendance to resolve all perceived grievances and other pending issues.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa