Niger Delta

East-West Road: Diri Calls For FG’s Speedy Attention

Published

3 months ago

July 15, 2024

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, last Friday, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to act swiftly to end the suffering of commuters at the Okogbe axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State.
The Governor, who was stuck for more than two hours at the bad portion of the road on his way to the Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit in Port Harcourt, lamented that some commuters and vehicles were on one spot for more than a week.
Speaking to journalists after an on-the-spot assessment, the Bayelsa Governor said the contractor handling the culverts project lacked the capacity and should be sacked for causing pains to Nigerians.
He also called on South-South legislators in the National Assembly to make the issue of the uncompleted East-West road a matter of national priority on the floor of the national legislature.
Describing the situation as pathetic and unacceptable, Governor Diri said the road, which connects all South-South states, was too important to be left in such impassable state.
He also stated that as the region that lays the golden egg for the country, the Niger Delta people deserve better than the pitiable situation on the road and urged the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, to visit the bad portions to see things for himself.
Diri recalled that the road was damaged during the 2022 floods, which also seriously affected Bayelsa, but that the state had within one year fixed all the roads destroyed in more than four local government areas and wondered why the Federal Government allowed the rehabilitation work on the East-West Road to linger for so long.
Speaking with Mr. Kingsley Onyema, the project supervisor of the company handling the project, Rock Result, the Governor questioned the rationale behind not making a section of the road passable for motorists rather than working on both lanes at the same time.
While appealing to people of the region to be patient, he dismissed claims by the contractor that drivers were impatient and urged the contractor to speed up the pace of work on the project.
“It is chaotic, pathetic and unbelievable that this is happening to an oil producing area that lays the golden egg for our country.
“The way forward is for the Federal Government to realise that an urgent step must be taken now. I commend the good intentions of the Federal Government but the Minister of Works need to come here and see things for himself and not rely on information from the contractor. I have spoken to the Minister about this road.
“You are all aware that the same flood of 2022 damaged roads in Bayelsa and we have fixed all of them. So how come an important road like this will be in this bad state? I am pained.
“Let me appeal to Mr. President to call all relevant officials concerning this road to ensure that the work is done to reduce the suffering of our people. From what I see, there is no plan on the part of the contractor and the company should be sacked”, he said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Issele-Azagba-Otulu Road Construction

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2024

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it will build roads and bridges to link every community with the state capital as part of the efforts to develop the state.

The Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, stated this on Thursday during the commencement of the 2.7km Issele-Azagba-Otulu Road construction in Aniocha North Local Government.

Aniagwu said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was determined to develop all parts of the state in line with his administration’s ‘MORE Agenda’.

“Oborevwori’s desire is to make sure that every local government whether they are in the North, Central or Southern Senatorial district of the state are touched.

”So that by the time we are coming back to our people in 2026-2027, the people themselves would appreciate what we have done”, he said.

Aniagwu added, “You will recall that few weeks ago, the Executive approved a number of roads across the three Senatorial districts.

”After the approval, we proceeded to the process of awards and we got a number of contractors who bidded after the projects were advertised.

“This particular project, which links Issele-Azagba-Otulu and to Ubulu-Okiti, was among the projects that was approved in the course of that meeting.

“It has been awarded and we are here to examine the level of mobilisation and to formally hand over the projects to the different contractors.

“This particular project is comprising 2.7km and over 3km side drain has been awarded to a contractor we considered capable and it will link up Aniocha North to Aniocha South in Delta North Senatorial District”, he said.

According to him, once this road is completed, the people of Issele-Azagba may not go through the expressway again to get to their local government headquarters at Issele-Uku.

“I have extracted commitment from the contractor and from their work schedule, I am convinced that in no distant time this project would be delivered”, he said.

The commissioner also disclosed that the Oborevwori-led administration was mobilising contractors to ensure they work with the necessary speed to avoid price fluctuations.

Aniagwu said the contractor had been given 30 per cent of the contract sum, adding that he was expected to deliver the project within 12 months.

“We are doing this because we don’t want a situation were a job is given to anybody and he tells us that he has been very busy scouting for funds hence he has not been able to kick-start the process.

“Even though we know that a lot of the contractors have the resources to mobilise to site, we have to mobilise them so that they don’t move at their own pace because we want them to move at our own pace.

“What we desire first is quality job to be delivered, and secondly to meet up with the speed because we don’t want a situation where a contractor takes a job and then he goes to the market to buy a mattress and begin to sleep on the project.

“We want them to be progressing steadily so that at the end of the day we don’t have to suffer on account of fluctuations in the economy”, the Commissioner said.

Aniagwu, accompanied by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Solomon Aghagba, also inspected Ichie James Obodoechi Avenue and Chikozie Okafor Road, in Asaba under construction.

Niger Delta

Navy Holds Free Education, Medical Outreach In Bayelsa Community

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2024

The Tide

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH, has held a free education and medical outreach for residents of Diebu in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The Commander, Commodore Nanmar Lakan, told newsmen during the exercise on Saturday in Diebu, that the outreach was a way of promoting cooperation with host communities.

Lakan further said the education and medical outreach was part of the navy’s corporate social responsibility to the civil populace.

He said the exercise was in line with the navy’s broad mandate which extended beyond safeguarding the nation’s territorial waters and national assets.

“We also take steps to support the health, safety and development of the people in our host communities.

“This initiative is part of the navy’s non-kinetic operations which are mostly aimed at enhancing civil-military relations”, he explained.

The commander also said the exercise aligned with the vision and strategic directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla.

He stated that Diebu Community was chosen for the outreach because of its history of producing leaders who had served the nation in various capacities.

“Remember that education remains a key tool for personal and societal development. It is veritable a tool to unlock opportunities.

“Health is an essential requirement for productivity and growth. We are aware that access to quality healthcare remains a challenge to many.

“This outreach targets to promote education and healthcare delivery in this community”, he said.

Lakan thanked the community for the warm reception and cooperation accorded members of the outreach team.

He reiterated the commitment of the navy to strengthen the close ties between it and the people of Southern Ijaw.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Distributes Fertilisers, Improved Seedlings To Farmers

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2024

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has commenced the distribution of fertilisers and improved seedlings to farmers in the state.

The State Governor, Umo Eno, who kick-started the exercise on Thursday at Uruan Local Government Area, said the gesture was to support second planting season activities.

He said a total of 12,000 bags of fertilizers and improved seedlings would be distributed to farmers across the state.

He reiterated the commitment of the State Government to support more citizen participation in farming to ensure massive food production.

“Our intention is to take agriculture to another level, a level where young people will see farming as a business activity.

“Our state is blessed with good vegetation, favourable weather, good road network, and adequate security.

“With the availability of land, favourable weather and good vegetation, there is no reason for anyone not to plant what they will consume”, he said.

The Governor said the State Government’s free food initiative was a temporary intervention towards reducing the hardship in the country.

“The lasting solution to the poverty and hunger facing the people is to return to the farm”, he said.

He stated further that the State Government would also distribute 10,000 cassava cuttings, 20,000 improved oil palm seedlings and 5,000 trays of pepper seedlings among others.

“We believe that it is time to go back to the farm. We should make our children to understand the need to get involved in farming very early in life”, he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, urged Akwa Ibom people to key into the state government’s food sufficiency programme.

He expressed the commitment of the ministry to drive the state government’s agriculture initiatives in the interest of food sufficiency and economic prosperity.