By MIKE EBONUGWO

UNTIL very recently, Delta State was in the news for negative reasons traceable to the gruesome killing on March 14 of 17 soldiers at Okuama in Ughelli Local Government Area of the state.

The tragic incident immediately threw the government and people of the state into shock and confusion, especially after irate troops invaded Okuama and levelled the community in their frantic search for the killers of the soldiers.

Weeks after, news of the incident continued to trend in the regular and social media, subsequently casting some shadows on all positive and praiseworthy activities in the state, including the count-down to the celebration of the first year anniversary of the state governor, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, who was being praised in many quarters across the state for having achieved so much within a short time in office under the aegis of his administration’s MORE Agenda.

Happily the news coming out of Delta at the moment is that the pervading cloud of fear and uncertainty arising from the Okuama incident is dissipating fast and being replaced by the upbeat mood of a people who are rolling out their drums in celebration. Indeed, one year after, Deltans are already counting the gains of electing Oborevwori as their governor. It is a development state government officials are proudly showcasing, telling all and sundry, including doubting Thomases, to come and see things for themselves.

Indeed, the story the average Deltan readily tells is that after his inauguration in May last year, Oborevwori had hit the ground running like a sprinter determined to break all available records. For instance, those in a position to know say he has since turned the entire state into a rapidly expanding construction site, with ongoing and completed projects.

And they are quick to list among the completed and ongoing projects: the ultra modern Delta State High Court which was recently commissioned, the Okpanam Ibusa bypass, construction/expansion of a section of DSC/NPA Expressway from Effurun Roundabout to DSC Roundabout along the Effurun/Patani (East West) Highway, construction of a Cloverleaf Interchange of the existing Effurun flyover bridge together with two pedestrian bridges in Effurun, construction of a flyover bridge from Enerhen Junction, Effurun, to Marine Gate Warri in Uvwie and Warri South Local Government Areas of the State; design and construction of a flyover bridge at DSC Roundabout, along the Effurun/Patani (East West) Highway; and design and Construction of a flyover bridge at PTI Junction along the Effurun/Patani (East West) Highway.

In addition to this is the completion of projects inherited from his predecessors. These included the Administrative Building, 500-seater Auditorium, two 250-seater Lecture Theatres, University Gate House, Faculty of Agriculture Complex and access road into the campus of the Dennis Osadebey University, Anwai, Asaba. Completed as well are the ultra-modern administrative building, Vice Chancellors Lodge, and the Faculty of Engineering of the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro. Also in the list is the completion and commissioning by the administration of the Okpolo/Enhwe/Uwheru Road (Phase II) in Isoko South Local Government Area of the State.

The one-year-old Oborevwori administration is also credited with the construction within the period of the Nsukwa/Umute/Adonte Road (Phase I: Umute/Adonte) in Aniocha South LGA, rehabilitation of General Hospital Road with a spur to Police Command Road from Warri/Sapele Road to Ajamimogha/Mabiaku Link Road, Warri in Warri South LGA; construction of internal roads and drains in kurutie Town, Warri South-West LGA, rehabilitation of Esisi Road from Warri/Sapele Road to Estate Roundabout with a spur to Nana College Road to Link Ajamimogha Road, Warri, Warri South LGA; construction of Roads around Otovwodo Junction, Ughelli in Ughelli North LGA; construction of Okerenkoko Township Roads, (Phase V) in Warri South West Local Government Area; rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Ohorhe/Adagbrasa-Ugolo-Okuodiete Road with a spur from Adagbrasa-Ugolo through Ughwagba Community to Okan Junction along Eku-Osubi-Effurun Road in Okpe LGA and Reconstruction of Upper and Lower Erejuwa Road in Warri, Warri South LGA.

During a recent tour of the state, state government officials, including the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza and the Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze, were at their salesman’s best in telling the amazing story behind each of the projects executed or being executed under the close watch of their principal. The tour that covered a significant portion of the state was quite revealing in terms of the audacity behind the drive to take on so many ambitious projects and bringing quite a number of them to completion within one year, while keeping keen focus on those still ongoing. Also noteworthy is the high standard of work being done.

The tour afforded the visitors the opportunity to do on-the-spot inspection and assessment of various projects, including the construction of phase 1 of Emevor-Ivrodeo-Orogun road at Emevor Town, Isoko North LGA of the state; the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Ohorhe/Adagbrasa-UgoloOkudiete Road with spur from Adagbrasa-Ugolo through Ughwagba Conmmunity to Okan junction along the Eku-Osubi-Effurun road in Okpe LGA as well as rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Oviri Court/ Evwriyen/Okuihele/Odjedi/Adagbrasa road also in Okpe LGA.

And the popular verdict was that the state government achieved an incredible feat in the execution of projects.

Among the stand out projects is the massive ring roads being constructed at Otovwodo Junction in Ughelli. The construction which comes complete with concrete pavement and asphalt overlay with side drains encompasses Uduere Road also known as Ovie Palace, Okogbe Road leading to the Ughelli-Port Harcourt highway, Oyakemeagbegha Street off Ughelli/Patani Expressway and Ohre Street off Ughelli/Asaba Expressway, opposite the Ughelli stadium and Edo Street. Together with the rehabilitation of Royal Avenue/Agbarha Road the interconnecting roads are meant to decongest traffic from Otovwodo junction.

Speaking on the imperative of this project, Comrade Izeze said its completion would go a long way in decongesting traffic from Otovwodo junction, while stressing on the quality of work being done using the concrete technology option. According to him, decongesting traffic at Otovwodo would definitely reduce travel time for road users, saying that people are very much aware of this, and are therefor hoping that the project will be executed faster. But he said that considering the concrete option of the road construction, “we are not in a hurry, we are taking our time to ensure that by the time this project is delivered, it would stand for 40 years”, adding: “We are not working according to anybody’s time line. We are working according to the standard provided by the engineers. And at the end you will be amazed at the quality of these roads”.

Indeed it is said that Governor Oborevwori is very particular about the quality of the roads and feels that concrete technology is the way to go. Speaking after an inspection of the 4.4km Emevor-Orogun Road, he was quoted to have said: “We are doing concrete on some of the roads because of the terrain of the area and l am satisfied with what the contractor (Obakpor Engineering Limited) has done so far on that road”. He also used the opportunity to commend indigenous contractors handling some of the state government’s project.

“Yes, the big contractors are also doing very well as well. As you can see, the government is patronising both local and big contractors such as Julius Berger, Levant and CCECC, but l am very happy with local contractors.

“With what l am seeing here now, the standard is very good and l am happy with what they are doing. We will continue to patronise them and other local contractors that are doing well,” he said.

Another project considered very significant is the Ayakoromo Bridge whose construction is ongoing. According to him: “What this project intends to achieve is to link Egodor village to Ayakoromo village by road. The average Ayakoromo man has never driven to his village all his life. He will have to sail from Miller waterside or NPA. At the completion of this project, all those from Ayakurumo, Ogbene and others, all of them will be able to drive home in their cars.”

That is also the case with the construction of a 500 metres bridge and adjoining roads across the Forcados- Orere end of the river at Forcado. The bridge which is being constructed by an indigenous firm, Obakpor Engineering, is expected on completion to link 15 communities in the area. “To access these communities you have to sail to the Bomadi end, the Warri end. But with this bridge and adjoining roads, all the people of Ewu Kingdom who live in the riverine areas of Ughelli South Local Government will be able to drive home in their vehicles.

“To this end we must  thank his excellency Senator Ifeanyi Okowa who had the courage to initiate the process, and of course, we must commend his Excellency Governor Sheriff Oborevwori who had the courage to keep his promise that he will complete all ongoing projects, particularly those that touch the lives of our people. You can imagine the multiplier effects of creating access to the agrarian communities, including the now famous Okuama. All the communities that are going to benefit from the completion of this bridge and roads are agrarian communities… fishing and farming is the only work they have,” the Works Commissioner said.