By Our Correspondent


An eighty nine years old woman Mrs. Salubi Inememene  is one of the beneficiaries of a four bedroom unit flat built by the Delta State Government for the people of Okerenkoko in Warri South West Council Area, Delta State.

The accommodation provided for the people through the Delta State oil Producing Development Commission, DESOPADEC is in fulfillment of a pledge by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan to provide houses for those who lost their homes in the May 2009 face-off between the Nigerian Military and erstwhile Niger Delta Militants.

Speaking on the development Mrs. Inememene who is the oldest woman in Okerenkono community said the fully furnished apartment would ease her accommodation pains since their homes were destroyed six years ago. According to her, she has been living in a makeshift apartment since her return after the clashes.

Her words, ‘I thank God for this gift, I thank Governor Uduaghan for looking at our face and building this houses for us. Now I can find a decent place to lay my head’.

Continuing, she said,  even at this age I will find this house very useful as my children and grand children can visit me and enjoy their stay’.

Presenting the keys to the twenty four bedroom flats, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan represented by the Commissioner for DESOPADEC Mr. Timi Tonye said he remained committed to  assisting the people of Gbaramatu kingdom in resettling and rebuilding their lives following the crisis that erupted in the area and sent the people away from their homes.

He told the people to maintain the peace at all times explaining that development was coming to the area through several well thought out projects.
He commended DESOPADEC for identifying the felt need of the people by building the houses.

Hear him, “I am quite impressed by this structure which keys into our Human Capital Development vision. With this development government has shown commitment in resettling those displaced when the unfortunate crisis raged in this area.

Dr. Uduaghan added that “we have built the confidence of people Gbaramatu Kingdom and we invite more people to join in fully rebuilding our communities in this axis. We sue for peace at all times”.

The Governor also appealed for understanding of his administration saying he was determined to finish strong, create the enabling environment for job creation and expand the economic potentials of the riverine areas of Delta State.

The Commissioner representing IJaw on the Board of DESOPADEC, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro said the agency’s intervention was necessitated by the need to provide adequate housing for the people of Okerenkoko who lost all their homes and property in the May 2009 aerial bombardment of communities in the area.

He said; “I want to commend Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for setting up this body which built and furnished twenty four bedroom flats for this community.”

According to him, this is the first phase of the flats to provide accommodation for the people as well as encourage others to come home and rebuild their houses.

The Vice Chairman Okerenkoko Federated Community, Mr. Monday Mieyesa who represented the Chairman, Chief James Tangbowei said the community was happy with the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for bringing succor to the people with the provision of the houses.

He appealed for more such buildings in the community to help them overcome the housing problem caused by the destruction of their houses.