EXCITEMENT, RISING HOPES AS WARRI/EFFURUN MASTER DRAINAGE PROJECT TAKES SHAPE
OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO/GODWIN AYOBAMI RACHAEL
Comr. Ovuozourie Macaulay, Director General, Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency (WUEDA) has affirmed that the master drainage project for the area was going on as scheduled.
Comr. Macaulay, former Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG) who fielded questions from journalists in Warri after a visit to the project sites said that the work done so far was encouraging.
The project sites visited include Ugbolokposo, Alegbo, Uti, Apala, NPA Expressway and Edjeba in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas where he expressed satisfaction and commended the contractors – Levant Construction Limited and CCECC for their efforts in spite of the rains and the Covid-19 induced lockdown.
According to Comr. Macaulay, “when you go round the area where these jobs are going on now, you will see the excitement in the faces of the people. For once we are not having any problem with the Communities because they are happy, they see the job as their own. Nobody is really disturbing the job we are doing today.”
The Director General, WUEDA added, “,in some of the areas, the people are no longer suffering the flooding issue. The communities are happy because most of them are already benefiting from it.”
He disclosed that phases one and two are billed to be completed between 18 and 24 months, adding that there is hope for the people of Warri/Uvwie axis that in the next three to five years they may not be talking of flood again.
Comr. Macaulay maintained that this is the first time the State Government has taken deliberate measures to tackle the issue of flooding in the area, he commended Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor of Delta State for his commitment to solving this challenge of the people.
However, Macaulay disclosed that those whose buildings and structures are located on the waterways have been notified, and that towards the end of August, the Agency will commence the removal of such illegal structures.
Also speaking, the Project Manager, Levant Construction Limited, Engr. Ghassan Fadel hinted that they would soon stop major works due to the heavy downpour, stressing that the swampy nature of the area aggravated by the heavy rains have been a hindrance to their speed and set target.
