In a bid to ‘finish strong’, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is carrying out massive road construction and bridge building in oil rich Delta State. The gale of roads and bridges completed and ongoing in the state are part of the renewed efforts by the state government to actualise its ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ agenda and its ‘finish strong’ mantra, which every member of the state cabinet has since keyed into.
And for those who think Uduaghan may not be able to finish the two gigantic flyover bridges being built by his administration in Warri and Asaba, they will need to have a rethink. Reason? December 2014 is said to be the deadline for the two gigantic flyover bridges, which are currently undergoing heavy construction work.
The state Works Commissioner, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, said the state government is doing everything possible to ‘finish strong’ in area of infrastructural development, which includes building of roads and bridges. Funkekeme, who spoke about the massive construction work ongoing in the state, said that his Ministry has the mandate to ensure that it delivered dependable roads network that will aid development in the state. Currently, about 199 roads of over 3,000 kilometres as well as drainages have been completed while 71 are ongoing and at various stages of completion, he disclosed.
Funkekeme, whose Ministry supervises every civil work in the state, including the ones done by other ministries, said that government was keen about its urban and rural road transportation system for ease of evacuation of agricultural products, movement of goods and services, including personnel from one point to the other.
Speaking with some selected journalists in the state, Funkekeme said that Delta State, unlike many other states, has several urban centres that needed to be developed. He said the major challenge is adequate funding. The Works Commissioner also spoke about the rural integration programme as well as urbanization of the cities centres as a way of attracting investors to the state.
According to him, the ministry has taken those steps so as to aid and assist Governor Uduaghan’s vision of leaving behind a legacy of dependable and sustainable road networks that will assist Delta State to a point where if there are no more oil resources, it can still attract investors and they can have our confidence.
Funkekeme said: “It is of paramount interest to note that the ministry has also started many projects like flyovers. It has one in Asaba and the other at Effurun-Sapele roundabout. The ministry is also planning to start one around Avenue/Airport road and so much progress are being made with the hope that December, the one in Asaba and that of Effurun will be completed for use by Deltans. The two flyovers are about N8 billion and billions of naira has been spent on roads alone across the state. Parts of these monies we have spent on federal roads of which we are asking the federal government to pay us back.” He said that the flyovers bridges would not only decongest traffic in Warri and Asaba, but would raised the urbanization standard of the cities so as to attract investors.
Speaking on the rural integration programme of the ministry, Funkekeme said that the state government has opened up Omadino through a link road, which is being taken just before the army checkpoint to link Omadino Bridge, adding that this would open up the rural communities of Omadino and to utilize the bridge effectively.
According to him, the rural integration programme has already attracted the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oristejafor, to open a university in Omadino. Oritsejafor has invited President Goodluck Jonathan to do the ground breaking.
“What Governor Uduaghan has done is to provide the necessary environment for the private sector investors to move in and avail themselves of the opportunities that are bound,” he added.
Funkekeme also mentioned the construction of Egbo/Ayakaramor bridge in Burutu LGA as part of measures government is using to bridge the gap of integration so as to enable investors invest anywhere in the state.
Funkekeme lauded the Uduaghan administration for been able to break an ancient jinx confronting Umeh community in Isoko South Local Government Area of the state by constructing several billions of naira of road and bridges in the community, which is 80 per cent completed.
“We are also doing a road in Illah from the civic centre to a big market in the waterside, a market that will be servicing Anambra, Kogi and other states around,” he disclosed.
Funkekeme mentioned several roads projects in the urban centres, including about 52 roads in the state capital, Asaba, already completed and ongoing. The ongoing roads include the NUT Road, Feeder 2B Road, St. Bridges Road, Legislative Close, NTA Road, Feeder Road 2A, and DLA Road. They are all with drainages.
While saying that over 30 roads projects are ready for commissionig, he said that the state government has taken some major road projects in Warri, Ughelli, Uwvie, Udu, Sapele as well as the Sapele/Abigborodo as key projects, adding: “With the advent of roads, Abigborodo, an Itsekiri riverine community that was cut off from other part of the state, is now passable, meaning vehicles can now drive into the town.
“There is one road that is very key to the state government which is the Avenue/Deco dualization project. The road is almost completed and we have also finished resurfacing Ajamimogha. They are working on Airport road now and that road cut across Warri South and Uwvie local governments.
“In terms of the finishing strong agenda, His Excellency has shown so much support for the ministry and that has aided it in assisting the ministry to ensure that the Uduaghan’s led government finishes strong.”
On why the state government has not commissioned several roads projects in the state despite their completion, Funkekeme said: “I think it is a matter of style. Dr. Uduaghan believes in achieving silently. He is an achiever. Well, we are going to expect more because we want to finish strong. The governor has directed every Ministry, Department and Agencies to ensure that it doesn’t slow down.
“He wants to leave behind a government that will be light for his successor. He doesn’t want to leave behind a government that is overweight with liabilities. We are going to expect more attention on roads, schools, hospitals till on the last day, that is what he has told us to do, until May 29, 2015.”
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