Dr Michael Tidi (middle), Mrs Divine Iniovosa (2nd left) in a group photograph with others during the Commissioning of Ighogbadu Secondary School.

By Francis Sadhere, Warri

The immediate past chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Dr Michael Tidi on Tuesday lauded Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta for the numerous landmark projects executed in the council area.

Tidi said this in Warri during the occasion of the Commissioning of the Reconstructed Ubeji/Ifie dualized road amongst other landmark projects executed in Warri South LGA by the Okowa led administration.

The projects were Commissioned by Governor Okowa and his Bayelsa counterpart, Governor Duoye Diri.

Tidi who welcomed the duo to Warri South said Governor Okowa has shown sincere commitment to the wellbeing of all Deltans with the Commissioning of the various projects in the council.

“I recall with nostalgia the plight of our people living in Ubeji, Ifie, Egbokodo, Aja- Etan, Ijala Ikeren, the Tank Farms owners and host of other persons who plied the hitherto deplorable Ubeji road before our dear Governor’s intervention. For decades, this beautifully constructed road was in a very bad state.

“The accident rate was quite on the increase; we had issues of vehicles conveying petroleum products falling off the road and spilling their products on the environment which in some cases led to fire outbreaks causing deaths and destruction of valuable properties.

“Not to mention the incessant traffic gridlock which was a nightmare to road users, our people spent hours on a journey that’s less than 15 minutes from the NPA, Effurun Expressway interchange, some commuters even abandoned their vehicles on the road. The preference for the use of motorcycles at the expense of motor vehicles was a common trend.

“The situation was really terrible, Your Excellency, it got to a point where landlords and tenants were parking out of Ubeji and environs due to the road condition, commerce was negatively impacted in the area.

“Our people lost their loved ones in avoidable accidents as a result of reckless motorcycle riders trying to maneuver in between vehicles. It was then a common saying among the people that government has forgotten Ubeji and its adjoining Communities.

“The event of today has completely changed the ugly narrative, as the people of Ubeji town and its environs have been reintegrated into the road network of the state and the economic life of the citizens has been significantly improved by the completion of this road,” Tidi said.

Tidi assured Governor Okowa that the people of Warri South will own all the projects commissioned in the area by working with security agencies in curbing the activities of bunkers so as to prevent the road from wearing off.

At the Commissioning of the new Ighogbadu Secondary School at Okumagba Layout, Warri, Tidi while commending Governor Okowa for building the school, appealed to the governor to build more classrooms because of the rising number of students who have registered and those who are willing to register.

He assured Governor Okowa that the people of the council will protects all the facilities in the school.