In his determination to rebuild the destroyed towns of Okerenkoko and Ugborodo communities  and meet the deadline of March next year, the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has constituted a 12 man committee to implement the programme.

Dr. Uduaghan announced this when the consultant handling the project architect, Ezekiel Iyang Ekut visited him in Asaba.  The visit was to present the plan of the Housing Scheme to him.

The governor, who reiterated his administration’s commitment to the provision of social amenities and housing to Deltans in the rural communities, said that the constitution of the committee was to fast track the project.  

He explained that the project has been designed and called on the committee to work closely with the consultant to ensure that the project was completed on schedule.

Governor Uduaghan invited the Federal government, oil companies operating in the area and international agencies to partner with the state as the project was a gigantic one.

According to him “This is capital intensive.  We are committed to ensuring that it succeeds, we cannot do it alone, we call on the federal government, oil companies and international bodies to take interest in the project.  We believe we should replace the damaged towns by developing a new town as part of our past amnesty plan.”  

He said the project would create employment for the youths of the area and promised that the contractors will work hard to meet up the deadline.

In his presentation, the consultant of the project and the chairman National Social Housing Scheme, Architect Ezekiel Iyang Etuk commended the Delta State government for its preparedness to resettle the displaced people of Okerenkoko and Ugborodo. 

  He said, he has started the job of designing a befitting settlement for the people by assessing the area, surveying it and putting the necessary statistics in place to build 350 houses for the people.  

  Architect Etuk explained that the project which is in its 1st phase would contain about 150 units of one bed room apartment, 100 units two bed room apartment and fifty units of three bedroom apartment.

He explained that the committee would develop a sustainability plan to ensure that the occupants of the buildings are able to maintain them adding that he was also exploring the possibility of attaching a means of livelihood for them.

  The consultant outlined the challenges the committee would face to include spending much money in the difficult terrain, high cost of transport among others.

His words “We are building a 350 apartment in the area, we are using the conventional pattern to ensure that the houses look modern.  We will be faced with the challenge of building in a difficult terrain and it will cost much money than building in other areas in the country but we promised to deliver a good job.”

The implementation committee is to be chaired by the state governor. Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Chief Wellington Okirika, Chairman DESOPADEC as vice chairman, the commissioners for Housing, Water Resources, Power and Energy and Special Duties (DESOPADEC) among others as members.