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Tag: Deltans

  • “Deltans want Okowa because he has performed well”

    Chief Favour Izoukumor is the commissioner representing Ijaw ethnic nationality on the board of Delta Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, and he doubles as the Coordinator of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa re-election campaign committee in Warri Southwest local government area of Delta state. In this interview S’South Regional Editor, Shola O’neil, he speaks on the factors that would determine the governorship contest in the state and why PDP candidates would easily defeat their APC counterparts. Excerpts:

    THE governorship election is barely three weeks away; how do you rate your candidate’s chance?

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa certainly has performed beyond expectations, considering the situation he met on May 29, 2015. He has done a lot in terms of infrastructure, construction of roads that cuts across all 25 local government areas of Delta state. He has also done well in human capital development, in entrepreneurship and training of youths. He has worked magic in the agriculture sector, and this is helped by the fact his road constructions were not limited to urban areas, it was extended to the riverine communities and these have resulted in all round development of the state.

    APC is fielding a formidable and popular candidate in Chief Great Ogboru, and is expected to give the ruling PDP a fight; do you think Okowa stand a chance?

    No one is undermining the popularity of Great Ogboru, the APC flag bearer, but you would agree with me that in democracy the electorates, with whom the power lies, determine victory. The people of Delta have spoken that the incumbent governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has done very well and they will reelect him – it is very clear.

    Besides, Delta state has a power sharing agreement, howbeit unwritten. Delta Central, from where Great Ogboru hails, has enjoyed power for eight years through Chief James Ibori. Delta South has also enjoyed it through Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and it is only just and right for the Delta North to have their full term.

    This arrangement is on moral grounds and it is working positively for the sitting governor. Ogboru is from Delta central and all Deltans feel that since the other two senatorial districts have enjoyed this arrangement, it is germane for the Delta North to have the same feel, particularly with a man who has done very well. Let’s not forget that this arrangement has brought understanding between the three senatorial districts, and all these are working positively for PDP. It is not good to break a working arrangement just because some people are desperate for power.

    Secondly, you can only win election with a political structure and PDP is very much on ground – from the state to the LGAs to the wards to every unit in the state.  I wonder how the APC can fly without viable platform and base. They also have to deal with the fact that APC at the center has woefully failed Nigerians. Buhari is the face of the APC and with his glaring failures; even APC’s stalwarts are canvasing a need to “change the change”.

    There are a lot of APC members working with us; we don’t want to expose them, because in politics you must have your ace, you joker. Our (PDP) presidential candidate and the Senate President came from APC, they realized that the party of strange bedfellows has failed Nigerians, and the only party that can make Nigeria work again is the PDP and they defected to make it work through the PDP. You will agree with me that with all these analysis there is no way APC would not fail, not only in Delta state but also in other parts of the Niger Delta.

    PDP members are also leaving for APC, and in your state, your district, the past governor, Dr. Uduaghan is now with APC and he is seen as a game changer…

    (cuts in)… Uduaghan, was a respected leader of the PDP, but unfortunately he has left and we cannot undermine his influence and all that, but as far as PDP is concerned, his departure means little to nothing. The weight of his departure was not felt because even his much-touted claim that thousands of his followers would follow him to the APC did not materialize. This is because everyone agrees that the Okowa administration is performing very well. Uduaghan is a past governor and he is backing the opposition APC, that is sad and although it’s a challenge, we will not dwell on that.

    Some people feel that the PDP in Delta state have mostly used their influence at the centre to win past election and now they will face the federal might of the APC?

    We have always heard of federal might, but democracy is not about war and the Niger Delta is not fighting either. We expect the election to be conducted by INEC and APC-led government to be free and fair. It is not a war, so I don’t see why the federal government led by the APC will deploy their federal might to intimidate us.

    If the federal government tries their ‘might’ they will fail because it is democracy and the people are in the position to make the decisions on who rules.

    I believe that by the position of the electorates in Delta state, the ‘federal might’ will not come to play and even if it will, the people will resist it in a civil manner, they will vote against it. We have a lot of strategies in place for the purposes of this election and I may not like to divulge the choice information at this critical time. But I think the people have spoken in all the campaigns and the beauty of democracy is that the people know their choice and with all the feedbacks in our disposal, PDP will win convincingly at all levels.

    Before the election, the governor was accused of focusing only on his Ika area to the detriment of other parts of the state….

    (cuts in) These are mere allegations that are unjustifiable. The developments cut across all three senatorial districts, and in all 25 local government areas of the state, you will see the developmental strides of the governor. The Ijaw ethnic nationality and the people Delta south are strongly behind the governor and our amiable deputy governor, Dcn Kingsley Otuaro, who has done very well as the Number 2 citizen, we are extremely proud of the team and we will support them all through.

    So whoever is peddling all this in this session, of course this is a political period and a lot of propagandas will arise, are doing it for all reasons but the truth. It is totally false.

    Is it not true that the government left major roads in Warri, Effurun abandoned until the elections season; isn’t this a political gimmicks to score for votes in these areas?

    Again, I don’t think there is a political gimmick in this issue. Of course resources is the strength of every government. You will recall that when this government came into power, it was faced with economic recession, in the whole of the federation, which partly affected the resources and the economy. You will remember that the Niger Delta states were struck with and the Forcados trunk line destruction, and this took about a year to be repaired. The daily production on that line was over 400,000 and that period of almost a year, Delta state was receiving almost zero percent allocation on the 13percent oil revenue.

    For individuals, corporate or government, you must take a reasonable time to save, and I believe that he has been saving and that is why this period there is enough cost.

    This terrain of parts of the state is riverine and you can only do most of the construction works in the dry season. It is unreasonable to say that because the governor was waiting for the best time to construct road it is political. And moreover, you will recall that late 2017 and 2018, the governor commissioned some completed projects in Warri, Delta south senatorial and some of the riverine areas.

    DESOPADEC has been in existence for about 12 years now, what has it achieved?

    The former boards tried their best, especially at the time when the current deputy governor was a commissioner; a lot of projects were witnessed at the oil producing areas. So, I will say that they did their best, and that is the essence of continuity of government. When Okowa took over, he consolidated on the achievements of the past government and he has made giant strides. Before now, the oil producing areas, especially the riverine communities, which is predominantly dominated by Ijaws and Itsekiris, didn’t get centralized projects from the past regimes.

    The Okowa government focused on centralized projects and he not just allocated, but awarded contracts in the oil producing communities and also those projects were completed and commissioned. There were up to 47 or 49 projects awarded, and as we are talking more than 80% of those projects have been completed and 60 to 70% are commissioned.  All these were achieved despite the economic challenges and militants’ destructions of oil facilities and attendant paucity of funds that the government inherited.  So, I believe that the governor has done very well in terms of capital development in the oil producing communities.

    Another aspect that he has done well is among the ethnic nationality and security management to ensure safe and secured environment for businesses to thrive. He has been empowering youths from oil producing communities to reduce restiveness, pipeline vandalism and also to retrain them to see that they become watchmen to the facilities in order to reduce oil facilities destruction. There are stipends that even past government were paying, but this government did it in a way that it got across to the grassroots. As a commissioner representing the Ijaw people, I can tell you that Okowa has done a lot for the oil producing communities, including in road construction.

    What are the achievements of DESOPADEC that you can bank on to campaign for his reelection?

    In our (Ijaw) area, there is a concrete foot bridge of over 800m was constructed with extensions and access roads and has been completed at Egbema. In Gbaramatu, there is a multimillion-naira housing project completed and delivered, and the sand-filling of Ijansa community of Warri SW LGA  it is a star project – constructed completed and commissioned as well. There is a brand new slipway project that is very dear to the entire Ogbe-Ijoh kingdom. This project includes construction of access road, and it has been completed and waiting commissioning by His Excellency, Governor Okowa.

    Similar projects are either completed or near completion in other parts of the state, including Isoko, where an ultra-modern town hall was built and fully equipped. In Itsekiri areas, roads are constructed and commissioned, along with dozens of other projects. Also in Oghara and the Urhobo axis, lots of roads networks are constructed. I also know that there is skill acquisition training for youths, and empowerments that go with the trainings all in the aspect of entrepreneurial skill acquisition initiated by the present administration. There are so much more and the state has never seen this wide spread of projects to all nooks and crannies.

    There was an allegation that the governor was withholding statutory funds from the commission…

    (cuts in) No, no, no, this it is not true at all. Am aware that every month and even in some cases before the end of the month depending on when funds are released by FAAC, the commission gets its funded, and on monthly basis too. I can’t remember any month for any reason that there was no allocation released. How was it possible for us to achieve these mega projects in this short period of time, if funds are not released? All our star projects that were completed and commissioned are fully paid for. Even in ethnic nationalities’ project, people wonder how the contractor completed jobs within the stipulated time having considered the difficulty of our terrain. They were motivated by the 25percent mobilization fund that the governor approved for them.

    If this is true, why are contractors are murmuring about the huge debts they are owed?

    I said that the star projects and centralized projects and those ones that take big chunk of money have been paid for, and I stand by it. The ethnic nationality contractors also told me that the present government has done very well in terms of mobilization. It is the mobilization that motivated them, and kudos needs to be given to them because they were hardworking and had a lot of integrity. Some of them have gone beyond the expected project stage because of that motivation and that is why you hear complaints about debt. It merely means that contractors, in anticipation of payments, executed projects beyond budgetary provisions because they trust us.

    I know that there are some projects of the ethnic nationalities that have not been fully paid and the government is defraying the outstanding bills on monthly basis. And you have to understand too that the issue of payment is not only in Delta state but a universal thing; payment is made when there is fund. Judging from the funds that came into this commission and what was achieved with it, the government has done very well.

    The reason why some of them are not fully paid is that when we came for over a year, we were paying debts that we inherited and that is the essence of continuity of government. This also emboldened contractors that they would all be paid at the right time. So even though 100% fund have not being paid to the ethnic nationality, a reasonable amounts have been paid and I am optimistic that before May 29, most of the balances of the contracts will be paid.

  • Deltans blast FERMA over claims on road project

    DELTANS have reacted angrily to claims by Federal Maintenance Agency (FERMA) that it has constructed 10 kilometre of the pothole riddled Asaba/ Illah/Ebu road. Daniel Ijie, Head (FERMA Delta State) had told reporters recently during an inspection of the repair on Warri bye pass extension/ NPA to DSC expressway last week that the agency had completed 10 kilometre of road in the State. A commercial bus driver, Mr. Ikenna Olojeme lamented the deplorable condition of the road, adding that the road had been made worse by articulated trucks plying the road. He said: “Not even a wheelbarrow of sand has been deposited at the site by FERMA, not to talk of constructing 10 kilometers of road.

    I am shocked at the comments of the FERMA boss”. Another resident, Chukwuma Emordi lashed FERMA for claiming to have repaired the road, saying “it is irresponsible for FERMA to make spurious claims in the media, especially when these claims can be verified.” He said FERMA has not mobilized to site in years, wondering how it is possible for the agency to make such claims. Another residet, Kinsgley Okolie accused the agency of politicizing the road construction, threatening to seek legal redress. A petty trader, simply identified as Mama Ngozi said:” Na inside dream FERMA complete the 10km road,abi na joke dem dey joke”. Chidi Eze ,a commercial taxi driver, challenged the road intervention agency to show to Deltans where the road was constructed, stressing that while FERMA in Edo State is working on the Edo State end of the road, nothing is happening in Delta State end of the road.

  • Whither Okowa’s ‘prosperity for Deltans?’

    Whither Okowa’s ‘prosperity for Deltans?’

    In the next four months, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State will be three years in office. In this piece, Asaba-based public affairs analyst, Ifeonu Okolo, says the administration has not delivered on its campaign promises, because its policies are impacting negatively on the welfare of workers. 

    WHEN the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was inaugurated on May 29, 2015, there was joy among Deltans, especially the people of Delta North senatorial district who had based their expectations on the fact that the governor is from within their ranks. It was the first the senatorial district would be producing a governor; the two other districts had in the past dominated the position.

    But, with the administration getting ready to celebrate its third year in office in a matter of months, the people’s enthusiasm has been dampened by the seeming lacklustre performance of Governor Okowa. Worst hit are the civil servants, who have been impoverished by the governor’s policies. For them, Okowa’s first term campaign mantra of ‘prosperity for all Deltans’ is fast turning into ‘poverty for all Deltans’.

    While the situation for the average Deltan has remained one of forlorn hope, the state executive of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) headed by Jonathan Jemireigbe has no doubt compromised their position, thus leaving the Delta State workforce at the mercy of Okowa.

    While the former administration of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan had employed over 10, 000 Deltans, the present government has systematically removed the names of over 10, 000 workers from the payroll, using various pretext which to the average Deltan remains unreasonable.

    Besides owing local government workers over 11 months arrears of salary, which his spokespersons have tried in vain to explain as untrue, the workforce at the state level is no better off, as they have been traumatized due to their inability to access their cooperative funds, which the present government hardly remits to the cooperators.

    This is despite the several billions of naira that the state has received from the Federation Account, with a firm promise to offset the worker’s salary arrears and pensioner’s emolument. The Okowa-led administration is yet to disprove the allegations of misappropriation of funds leveled against it by Dr. Cairo Ojugbo, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ojugbo alleged that the N10b received by Delta State government in the last trench of the Paris Club refund was not channeled towards the payment of workers.

    Sad as this may seem, the government rather than addressing the weighty issues raised by Dr. Ojugbo had resorted to mudslinging. Worst still, traditional rulers who should have played a fatherly role by investigating the allegation chose to take sides by describing Ojugbo’s assertion as hate speech.

    Following the investigation of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Okowa’s Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, had attempted to explain how the last tranche of the Paris Club was used. He disclosed that N5b out of the N10b was to be used in offsetting arrears. But Aniagwu however left a vacuum in his effort to fool Deltans, by not stating specifically the kind of arrears the N5b was meant for.

    Dr. Ojugbo alleged that Okowa used the so-called arrears in paying himself. This has remained an incontrovertible fact, since Aniagwu’s assertion itself over how the N10b was used never explained if the arrears were for local government workers or for promotion arrears of the state civil servants, which Okowa’s administration has stopped paying. Where is the prosperity for all Deltans in this?

    But, beyond that, even the public-private partnership the state government entered into with God is Good Motors to take over the state transport fleet, Delta Line, has thrown much questions up which the present government is yet to address. The Acting Delta APC Publicity Secretary, Leonard Obibi, also wondered why the government refused to accept the proposal by labour to make the sum of N2b available to the government and run the transport fleet.

    Obibi is surprised that the administration preferred to give out 60 per cent share of the transport fleet to God is Good Motors, at the paltry sum of N161m. The question yet to be answered therefore by the government is: “What is the economic sense in such a privatisation, which on the other hand has thrown about 700 workers into the labour market? Where is the prosperity for all Deltans with such policy?”

    Even the recent arbitrary deduction of workers’ salary on the grounds of a contribution for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by Governor Okowa has remained unchallenged, because the state executive of the NLC has been allegedly compromised with money to the detriment of the workers. Many of the helpless workers has been asking: “Does a government have the moral right to compel workers to contribute money into a ‘health programme’, which they do not benefit from; as most of them prefer to visit private hospitals where their needs are better served?”

    Beyond that, the government has gone out of its way to block all manner of empowerment programmes for workers, just to impoverish the people. For instance, early in his administration, Okowa abolished the payment of the West African Senior School Certificate examination registration fees for secondary school students. If anything, it has even introduced school fees in public secondary and primary schools. While other states celebrate the performance of students in tertiary institutions, by awarding scholarships to such deserving students, the practice has been abolished in Delta State.

    While most Deltans do not know the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR), various forms of obnoxious taxes are imposed on the helpless citizens, whose little earnings from other sources are squeezed out of them with intimidation. Such and many more are the prosperity Okowa’s government has brought to Deltans.

    How would the people enjoy prosperity, when the Okowa administration runs a cabinet of over 2,200 political appointees, with a monthly take home pay of over N350m. This was revealed by his Finance Commissioner, Olorogun David Edevie recently.

     

  • ‘Deltans should support APC’

    ‘Deltans should support APC’

    The leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, has urged Deltans to work with the party this year.

    He gave the advice yesterday in his New Year message, made available to reporters by his media aide, Aghogho Orotomah.

    The former governorship candidate congratulated and welcomed Nigerians into 2018.

    He thanked God for a smooth passage into the new year, saying another chance had been given to mankind to make the world better.

    Emerhor enjoined Nigerians, especially Deltans, to support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, assuring them that the near-two decades of poor governance would end soon.

    “Olorogun Emerhor is ecstatic that Nigerians and indeed the world have a new opportunity to make the world a better place. He urges men of goodwill to work for peace, joy and prosperity to reign in the new year.

    “Emerhor, in particular, wishes Deltans a prosperous new year. He encourages them to stand up for themselves, take their destinies in their hands and work with the ruling federal APC government and the party in Delta State, in its mission to rescue the state from 18 years of bad governance, misrule, pillaging and underdevelopment by the past and incumbent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governments. Deltans should no longer despair as liberation is near,” the APC leader said in the statement.

    He felicitated with the President and members of the APC government, pledging the commitment and support of Deltans to make Nigeria a better place.

     

  • Deltans drum up support for Dickson

    Deltans drum up support for Dickson

    Delta State indigenes in Bayelsa State yesterday drummed up support for the re-election of Governor Seriake Dickson.

    The people, under the aegis of the Isoko Solidarity Group (ISG) and Isoko Development Union (IDU), said the governor had improved the economy and stabilised the polity since assuming power over three and a half years ago.

    The ISG Chairman and Coordinator, Mr. David Ekah, at a news conference in Yenagoa, said the Delta indigenes would mobilise support across the state for Dickson’s re-election on December 5.

    He said they were organising a 10,000-man march to sensitise indigenes and non-indigenes to re-elect the governor.

    Ekah said Dickson was a man of peace and a development-oriented personality, adding that since he became the governor, Bayelsa had enjoyed peace and security.

    His words: “Our people living in the state don’t want to return to the dark days of insecurity. At a point, most of our people and other non-indigenes fled the state because of insecurity.

  • ‘Niger Deltans must demand more from their leaders’

    ‘Niger Deltans must demand more from their leaders’

    Will the Petroleum Industry Bill ever see the light of day?

     

    The PIB had always been in the front burner. I was opportune to be a member of the Petroleum Committee (Upstream) in 2007-2011 and I was a member of the committee that was set up to look into the bill. We worked very seriously and we got to a point where we started considering it on clause by clause basis. Unfortunately, it was aborted because our time ran out.

    Then in the next assembly, I was also a member of the Petroleum Committee from 2011 to 2015. We did creditably well; we did anything that needed to be done. I was the only returning member of the committee to handle the PIB so I was in the driving seat. We did a lot; all consideration of the bill and harmonized all considerations and came out with the report and it was presented to the House. Sadly again, we started and finished the consideration almost on the day the House was winding down, which was about the same thing that happened in the 6th Assembly, but in the 7th we actually did complete it, but almost the same day we were winding down the House. It became like it was jinxed.

    The issue is that the bill needs to concur with the progress in the Senate, but the Senate couldn’t get to the extent which we got to. The PIB was passed by the House (7th Assembly) now we have to wait for the Senate to conclude because we definitely have two different versions and we have to come back again to gavel-to-gavel table where we need to harmonize the two positions. After harmonization, it doesn’t take anything more again, we merely need to adopt and it goes and become law.

    However, because we have a new government in place, we may have the government of the day coming up with some input, fresh ideas, which ‘may’ affect us. But I think it is one issue we need to take up. I  promise I will be one of those that will bring it up as soon as possible.

     

    How has the non-passage of the PIB affected the oil bearing communities and the oil sector?

     

    I will take that of the communities first. The bill is for the entire country; it is to reform and allow our oil companies to run in line with best practices all over the world. It is not an oil producing environment bill; this is where we get it wrong and this is where the wrong perception that the bill is fashioned towards supporting the oil producing states or region. A law made by the National Assembly is never sectional. Don’t forget that oil could also be found in the north or any other part of the country today and the bill covers it; if it goes to the Southwest, Southeast or any other part, it is the same thing. So, the laws are not for the South-south or the oil producing communities; it is not for the Warri Federal Constituency because they have oil, it is a law that is meant to govern in the acceptable best practices all over the world. I don’t want people to see it as a law that is made for particular section of the country because that is where we sometimes have challenges with our brothers and members from other parts of the country.

    In terms of how the bill would have helped the oil producing communities: I have looked at the bill, apart from the aspect of the environmental issues and host communities fund, there is nothing fantastically to the benefit of the oil producing communities and states. Unfortunately for us too, the host communities fund aspect of it, which was to be a 10percent after-tax profit of the oil producing companies – it is not coming from the government. That again lost its value in so many ways. One thing people don’t seem to understand is that the 10percent is coming from the profit after tax of the multinationals and oil producing companies. That again lost its value because what was passed was that all parts of this country are host communities to oil. I find it very laughable to say that the entire country is host to oil. Yes, in terms of our federal law, it says all resources etc belongs to the country. But then do not forget that there is a derivation principle and definition. If you drill deeply, like they do when drilling for oil, into the meaning of derivation, you will find out that the entire country cannot be host communities because there is a point from where that oil is derived. It is that point and adjoining environment that is mostly affected by the oil activities.

    As such, what I suffer as somebody sitting right now in Warri talking to you in terms of the adverse effects of oil exploration and exploitation activities is not what a northern who is thousands of miles away from Warri would suffer from the impact of oil exploration. In terms of environmental damages too, what I suffer here may not be what other somebody in other parts of the country like South-west or South-east or North would suffer. I suffer more. What we are  going through in Warri as we speak is something we need to evaluate and take measure to actually put to rest, if not, this is going to be very dangerous to the generations yet unborn.

    But that is how it was passed and that is how it is with parliament; we have a loud minority, but the majority would have their way. The law has been passed that way and even if it is not right, we said, ‘let’s not throwaway the baby and the bathwater.’ That is for some of us who are against the principle of having the entire country as host community. We cannot say just because of that alone, let us throw away a bill of more than a thousand clauses. We would come by way of amendments to some aspects of this bill sometimes in future. That is if it is eventually passed and if it will ever be passed.

    How do you think these various intervention agencies (DESOPADEC, NDDC and others) can have more impact in the lives of the people for which they are set up?

    The people have to demand for adequate attention by way of agitation. This does not mean that they have to be violent or a call to take up arms. Agitations are in various forms: There is the peaceful violence, intellectual approach to agitation and finally, the violence, which I will not subscribe to, because I don’t want lives lost, I prefer the other two.

    What you should know is that a northerner is not on the management board of NDDC; they are all people from the Niger Delta, who know what the issues are with these areas. They must have lived here and people that lived here before their appointments as members of the management team. So, they know. The people should demand their rights from these people.

     

      What is the state of the Koko-Ogheye road project?

     

    The road construction is ongoing. It might be slow, but work is going on there. As we speak, we have accomplished about 6km and we are getting close to the first critical aspect of the job, which is the bridge over the Ologbo River. There is progress towards sand filling to the river. By the time we get to the other side, I think we would have completed close to 15km to the Ologbo Bridge. The bridge is a very massive one, which is the next most critical stage of the bridge. There is something I would say and I have suggested it to people; the road should be divided into sections as it is with the East-West highway for quicker accomplishment. It should be for two or three construction companies: one at the beginning, another at the middle and finally one working from the Ogheye end of the project. That would have gone a long way to expedite action on the road. But because we have one contractor and issues of funding is also a major problem; funds are not readily available to all the mega projects around the Niger Delta. Irrespective of these challenges, the project is ongoing, although as I said before, maybe not so satisfied with the pace.

    That road is one of my dreams and I often asked myself if I have to leave office without the completion of more than 50percent of that project. I ask myself: Would somebody who is taking over from me have the same passion for it as I have? That road is very important and I will tell you why. I have looked at developmental strategies in terms of infrastructure, housing. roads, lights and others and I chose road as one of the most important and primary fundamental process to development.

    Why do I say this? It may be difficult for an ordinary man to put a motorable road into the thick of the forest, but once that road is built, people would start moving in there and they would build their own houses. That is what you are seeing in the Koko-Ogheye road, for the first 6km that we have accomplished, go to the entire area it is been bought up; people are building, tank farms are springing up and they are growing on a daily basis. That is just within two years and the place is opened up completely.

    I want to use this is a forum to advise our governors that what you need to do for the people is to give them infrastructure in some of these areas. What are these infrastructure? A few of them – road with good drainages, light etc –  and you will see the people moving in with their funds to build. There are some instances where I don’t think the Federal Government should be engaged in some of these other ventures like building of houses and others. The people want to build their houses to their tastes but give them the necessary facilities for the people to move in.

     

  • Emerhor promises better life for Deltans

    Emerhor promises better life for Deltans

    Delta  State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate Olorogun O’tega Emerhor has promised better life for the people, assuring that he will run the state like a businessman with a human face.

    He described the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a party without vision and mission, adding that its leaders are dereft of ideas.

    Emerhor said that the PDP is jittery, ahead of the elections, because it has been rejected by the people. He said the APC will insist on credible and transparent elections in Delta State.

    Emerhor spoke in Warri, where he met representatives of interest groups and non-governmental organisations.

    He said gone were the days when the people will elect a government that will plunder the wealth of the state.

    The standard bearer said the stage is set for a qualitative leadership, urging the people to gird their loins.

    He said the those in government in Delta State have run the state in a manner that has permitted corruption and mediocrity.

    Emerhor promised to deploy his business sagacity and experience, if elected as the governor.

    He said, if the allocation to the state is judiciously used, the state will be better for it.

    The politician aslo said that it will be relelatively easier to jerk up internally generated revenue, if the government is perceived as a performer.

    He promised to encourage public/private partnership in economic activities and general governance to foster efficiency.

    Emerhor said that poverty can be benished from Delta, if the resources are used to promote general wellbeing.

    He added: “We are coming with programmess that will provide employment for Delta people and ensure that our youths are engaged. We are coming out with schemes that will make sure that our people are employed and enhance prosperity.”

    Emerhor acknowleged housing as a challenge, assuring that a housing programme that will enambe workers to own houses will be implemented.

    He also assured that his government will promote programmes that will attract industries will create jobs for unemployed youths, thereby adding value to the state’s economy.

  • We are suffering, Niger Deltans tell governors

    We are suffering, Niger Deltans tell governors

     As four of six Niger Delta governors gear up for the last year of their tenure, a team of Niger Delta Report reporters went round the states to seek the peoples’ expectation from their governors. Reports by Shola O’Neil, Precious Dikewoha, Nicholas Kalu, Kazeem Ibrahim, Mike Odiegwu, Osagie Otabor and Aiwerie Okungbowa.

    Godwin Ariwadu

    I want the government to create an atmosphere of peace in the state by using the spirit of 2014 to set up a peace reconciliation committee. As I am talking to you now, many youths are preparing for war this year through the advice of their godfathers. Already the politicians who are meant to be their role models are fighting one another because of 2015 election. So if we don’t use this year to make peace with one another, the crisis we saw last year may be little of what we may witness this year.

    Mrs. Kat Amadi (Trader)

    I want government to focus attention on fixing bad roads in Port Harcourt. Though the governor has tried in the area of road construction but that is not enough, there are many roads in bad shape – Nkpor, Rumuorlumini roads and the rest in Ikwerre ethnic nationality. If the governor who is our brother cannot come to our rescue this year who knows if the person that will take over from him will consider our plight.

    Endurance Ofurum

    I want the government of Rivers State to decongest Port Harcourt by relocating some of the ministries to areas like Ogoni, Degema and Igwuruta. This will help to minimize congestion and control population in Port Harcourt city and also stabilize house rent by making it affordable to low income earners.

    Elder Chidi Wihioka, politician

    2013 happened to be the year evil men wanted to take over the government of Rivers State but God disproved their plans. More militants came back to Port Harcourt last year to terrorize the people of Rivers State.  The year 2014 we believe will usher in more dividend of democracy through our great party APC.  And it will also be the year that Rivers people will stand against injustice and impunity. On the area of education more opportunity will be given to Rivers People through scholarship and other training especially the youths.

    Chikodi David Dike, former LGA committee boss

    It is a year to consolidate on the ongoing projects and other programmes initiated by Governor Chibuike Amaechi.  God will use Governor Amaechi to touch lives in 2014.  There is no community or Local Government in Rivers State that has not benefited from one   project or the other. For example, if you go to Ogbogoro, Ozuoba and other communities in Obio/Akpor you will see projects being executed by this administration.  2014 will be a year for the consolidation of those projects.

    Mike Elechi, retired Perm Sec

    This year 2014 we must pay attention to agriculture, I have always been an advocate that what the government announces every year as a budget for agriculture is just a paper work.  The theory cannot work; the budget government declared every year serve for a particular purpose which is not for the interest of the people.  Government knows those who can do well in the area of agriculture but they don’t partner with them, if government is serious in agriculture the entrepreneur must be empowered.
    The interest rate at the bank is high and an entrepreneur is not ready to pay 25 percent interest to bank because government has failed on their responsibility to empower and partner with the entrepreneur. For instance,   our soil is not productive, we expected the government to assist the farmers on the area of oil test and seedling instead of giving cash that may not be use for the purpose of which the money was given to them. So this year I want the government to be more proactive in the area of Agriculture.

    Chief Sir Raymond Chidah, Businessman

    I want the government to focus on service delivery.  We have all disappointed the society including the APC and PDP; the people have nothing to eat this year especially in Rivers State.  There was no money; some people even borrow to celebrate Xmas and New Year. The worst thing is that contracts were being awarded to non-indigene in the state. It is unfortunate that two Ikwerre men are fighting themselves.

    Micheal Ugwari, Student

    This year we are expecting that the government will focus on making the Local Government more accountable to the people. We know that for the few months now the state has not received an allocation from the Federal Government but we want the rural areas to feel the impact of the government. People are suffering nothing is happing at the locality.

    Dr Etim Okon Edet, Paramount Ruler of Bakassi

    For me the resettlement of my people is the most urgent thing that I need now. I don’t know whether people know that lives of people are involved in this thing. It’s like Nigeria has neglected its obligation and you know that know Nigeria willingly ceded that area, so I don’t know why it cannot in the same way resettle the people, so they can have a sense of livelihood.

    Samuel Una, a farmer in Yala LGA

    The governor should help us
    with roads in our area. There
    is a road that leads from Yahe to Benue state, it passes through Ukelle. The whole of Ukelle community we don’t have any road. We produce a lot of a lot like rice, cassava, yams but cannot transport them because the roads are bad and it is increasing poverty. We have few bore holes but they are not enough. We also need water. Here people still drink from ponds. We need pipe borne water. We also need a little empowerment at least for people to do farm work. We need loans and grants from government.

    Chinedu Okafor, Businessman

    The only thing I am begging the governor this year to do is to ensure the Calabar-Itu road is fixed. We all know that that road is the main nerve of this city and the terrible state it is in now is costing us a lot in terms of business. They say it is a Federal Road and that they should wait for the federal government, but it is like living in a house and you are waiting for the landlord to come and fix your toilet when he is not willing. Governor Imoke is going to be leaving soon and I believe if he can achieve that one thing, he would have engraved his name in gold in the hearts of Cross Riverians for a long time.

    Eyo Nsa-Itam, Chairman, C’Rivers NUT

    The government should re-introduce rural allowances and tax rebates for teachers. This would go a long way to motivate the teachers. The rural allowances and other allowances that the teachers were enjoying were removed. So many schools renovated without enough students. Despite financial constraints build more schools. The most important issue is the welfare of teachers. The working condition of the teacher is the learning condition of the student. If the teachers are happy, the children would also be happy.

    Esther Effanga, a nursing mother

    The most important thing the governor should make sure happens this year is the proper enforcement of free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five years. They have been telling us and people all over the country believe that this is the situation here in the state. But we who are supposed to be benefiting from this are not. We still pay for various charges in the hospital for ourselves and our babies. I don’t know if maybe the money goes to the pockets of the hospital workers or whatever. The only thing that is free is the registration. We pay for tests and in most cases, the equipment are not available so we have to do tests outside. The doctors prescribe drugs for us and we go outside and buy them. Ordinarily everything should be free, but I can tell you it is not.

    Ogban Ebock

    We expect that the governor rounds up all the projects he has embarked on. We also expect he should midwife a new government to come and take over and continue the good works he is doing.

    Florence Ogar, nurse

    The government is doing well in the primary and secondary health sector, but lacks adequate manpower to effectively run the health sector. Some health centres that need about 50 workers, they have just 10 to 15. There are so many well trained health workers in the state. They should be employed so that the old and able hands would be able to bring them up, so that when the older ones retire, the younger ones can take over effectively.

    Victor Iyanam, former Commissioner for Justice

    The government should focus on uncompleted project especially the 20th Anniversary hospital because that was the only Akpabio’s initiative.  That hospital project should be completed, the Tropicana project should be completed as originally conceived and then there are so many road projects especially in Oro Nation. Right now, erosion has cut off part of Oro on the federal road. Just like the government was doing federal road elsewhere they should go and complete the one in Oro Nation. The governor is not contesting any election in 2015. So there is no reason why we should fall under no governance because of election.

    Clifford Thomas, A’Ibom CLO chair

    The development of human capacity development and improvement in the welfare of the people should be the area of focus for the government in 2014. When the governor promised 31 industries we thought it was a good idea. Now the people need jobs that will put food on their table. The infrastructure is there but it cannot transform to food. There is poverty and hunger in the land and the disparity between the rich and the poor is so wide. Government should do everything possible to stop capital flight. As it is today, more than 3.6million Akwa Ibom people are unemployed.

    Akanimo Edet (civil servant)

    We want the governor to
    complete some of the
    projects initiated by his administration and also guarantee the citizenry a stable political atmosphere as we move to the election year.”

    Tony Osauzo (Journalist)

    The governor should complete all on-going projects and engage in new ones according to available funds. Roads within the metropolis must be given priority in 2014.

    Kola Edokpaiyi, Activist

    What we are expecting from the state governor in 2014 is to complete all on-going projects before embarking on new ones. The central hospital, a lot of roads are yet to be completed. The governor should complete them. There is high unemployment rate in the state. Oshiomhole should address unemployment and create jobs. Insecurity is another area of concern.

    Oviawe Erhabor, Lawyer

    He must fulfil his campaign promises by making poverty history. Oshiomhole should work the talk. This is not the time for noise making. We must see evidence of what they have done. For the past one year, nothing was done in the state. The government must be responsible and accountable to the people. He must resume work at all facet of lives. There should be access to justice. 2014 will be a year of happiness if all things are done well. The government should invest massively in agriculture. Buildings have been done in schools. It is now time to employ quality teachers.

    Alagoa Morris, Human rights activist

    Commuters who ply the waterways regularly and whose work, business and livelihood depend on the creeks/ rivers are in constant fear now owing to the activities of sea pirates. Just as the Special State Security outfit code-named Operation Doo Akpoo is strategically position on land within the State capital and other communities, a marine division should also be created to adequately patrol and be strategically positioned to contain the menace of armed robbers in the rivers and creeks. This would also assist in reducing the criminal act of kidnapping in the state.

    Bright Igrubia, NYC chair

    We expect government to come out with the second phase of renunciation exercise which is rehabilitation exercise. The law which was passed and assented to by Governor Seriake Dickson in Section 3 (6) talks about rehabilitation through the Department of Social Affairs.
    Then, the Soghai students are back and need start-up packages where they can create value and add wealth and become economic change agent within the Bayelsa clime. Top on the agenda for 2014 is job creation.

    Seyifa Thomas, Yenagoa

    The government must direct its energy in creating jobs. There are many graduates in the state without jobs. There will be no sustainable security without first creating employments for youths.  Also the government should invest in building public relaxation centres for people in the state and for tourists. People should have options of where to go and relax whenever they feel like going out. Unlike other states, the only relaxation centres in Yenagoa, the state capital, are eateries.

    Torki Dauseye

    The government should try and complete the ongoing projects. Another thing that is very important is the budget implementation report. Last year the government did many projects but we did not have the budget implementation report.
    Some projects are overlapping. So we don’t know which budget is funding which project. We didn’t know the total budget used for overhead and how much was used for infrastructure. We need a budget implementation report and Auditor-General report so that we know how much is expended.

    Somina Johnbull, lawyer

    I expect the governor to main
    tain his focus and complete most
    of the projects he had embarked on in many sectors. He should complete and consolidate such projects. I have not been able to pinpoint any area of fiscal indiscipline. People are simply complaining that there is no money to share. We hope the governor continue to ensure prudent management of the state’s resources.

    Elizabeth Egbe, Coordinator, National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corp

    We want all ongoing road objects completed in 2014. We should also have access to quality healthcare, educational services and to participate in budget processes. The government should improve transport system for riverine people and give welfare packages for fishermen who have been neglected. The government should also ensure speedy passage of the Child Rights Act.

    Chief Steve Sokoh

    We in Udu Kingdom are suffering, but there is light at the end of the tunnel because we can see the fingerprints of the Governor coming back to develop Udu. My wish is that 2014 will be better than 2013.
    I want to single out infrastructure ,roads to be precise. The ongoing Delta Leisure Resorts, Oleri, Udu is presently incapacitated, because nothing is actually happening there now. If the project is revived it will have a multiplier effect in Udu Kingdom and Delta State at large. Work on the beautification on the median of the DSC expressway leading to the resort is epileptic. I want the type of infrastructure being enjoyed by the people of Uvwie, Effurun, and Warri South to spread to Udu. I know Dr Uduaghan has the heart to do it.”

    Chief David Ohwoekevwo, President-General, Agbarha-Otor

    Our community lacks a hospital and good network of motorable roads despite its contribution to national development as a major oil producing community. We feel marginalised; people are not benefitting from many government policies. I have to appreciate Governor Uduaghan for all he has been doing. In spite of the quantum of oil produced, Agbarha has no hospital whereas communities that are not up to Agbarha in size and population have .The hospital project approved before the exit of ex-Governor Felix Ibru has not gone 60% completion. One expects that projects like that should be completed and commissioned for the use of the community. Also many of our sons and daughters are graduates and they are unemployed They have resorted to riding Okada. Government should focus on employment this year. So that those people whose parents borrowed money to see through their education will relieve their parents of suffering. The government policy of automatic employment for first class graduate is not working because I have young graduates with first class degrees who have applied for job but he was not even invited for an interview. I want to believe that government is playing politics with this policy. Our roads should be well tarred so that the scourge of rural-urban migration will be reduced and also enhance the socio-economic life of the people”.

    Oghenejabor Ikimi, activist

    Deltans must join hands
    with government to fight
    official corruption and poverty in our polity as government alone cannot do it. Deltans must learn to expose corrupt leaders rather than worshipping them, this is because for every money looted, wasted  or mismanaged by public office holder and is allowed to go unpunished, same translates  into poverty, decay in public infrastructure, insecurity, massive unemployment. In addition, the Federal Government must as a priority strengthen and reposition the EFCC and ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau respectively for greater efficiency in 2014.

    Austin Eboh, Stanley Mukoro, civil servant

    Eboh said the Delta State Government should as a matter of urgency conduct the council poll as the subsisting transition committees have overstayed their relevance. This has made the conduct of the local government elections an urgent matter that cannot be delayed any further.
    Stanley Mukoro , a civil servant, could not agree less: Deltans have eagerly looked forward to the conduct of the local government elections, but that has not materialized. So we can only hope and expect that that should be a major priority to the State government.
    Also a speedy completion of all on-going projects especially roads and creation of jobs, particularly for the youths of this State are some of the expectation of Deltans in this New Year.”

  • ‘Deltans are tired of PDP’

    ‘Deltans are tired of PDP’

    Delta State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship aspirant Navy Commander Uche Onabu (rtd) spoke with JEREMIAH OKE on his ambition, the clamour for power shift in the state and other issues.

    What is the political situation in the Delta State?

    So far, the People Democratic Party (PDP) has been ruling the state for 14 years, From the era of Chief James Ibori to Dr. Uduagahan. Currently, Deltans are yearning for a drastic political change This is because our people are fed up with the PDP. Our people need a change and that is why we think that the change cannot come from any other party, except the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), considering the fact that ACN as a party has been able to proved that they can govern very well. We want to replicate what we see in the states like Lagos, Edo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti in our own state. Politically, right now, in Delta, the wind of change is blowing. Everybody is thinking of how to restructure the state in terms of infrastructural facilities, security, industrial development, employment generation, and other areas. But the most important thing is that, if you interview an average man on the street or in the bus or in the market, they will tell you that they are fed up with the PDP, which is just sharing the money, and not using it for developmental projects.. That is the present situation of things in Delta State.

    Is the ACN hail and hearty in Delta State?

    Yes, we are. So far, we were not the main opposition. Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) is the main opposition in Delta State and that is Great Ogboru’s party, but at the national level, we know that ACN is a strong force. That is why we decided to stay in the party in our state. Personally, I decided to stay and be loyal to the party, despite the fact that I lost against a PDP candidate when I contested for the House of Representatives in 2011. They offered me an appointment in the PDP after the election, but I refused. I stay with the ACN because of the good governance we are preaching to our people and I am still there preaching the good governance gospel. At the state level, our major challenge is funding because the national body of our party did not have trust in Delta State in 2011, but now the elders of ACN and the youths are prepared to restore the party in the state

    You are a solder. How have you been able to adjust to the civil politics?

    As a military officer who has been in the navy, I was privileged to participate in the political life of the country. I was the ADC to the former Lagos State Governor under the Babangida regime. I was the ADC to Governor Ukiwe and that had exposed me to political life. I was the Security Officer to Ukiwe and Aikhomu. I was also Security Officer to Maduekwe. I was also the Security Officer in Abacha’s office. That exposed me to politics because I was in a key position in the Ministry of Defence for a while. Since I retired, I was also privileged to work with Shell as an adviser. I have been in the fence ,until 2010 when I came home from abroad and that made me to witness the rerun of Ogboru and Uduaghan. That was the event that spot my interest to start having the passion to see what I can do to contribute to governance in my community. That was what led me to participate in the House of Representatives race in 2011. I won the primary with a very wide margin. I won in Warri and other areas. That was what made me the flag bearer of our party, ACN, for the House of Representatives. But unfortunately, when we went for the election, the PDP won. I accepted the victory without going to court. I started preparing for 2015. That was my first time in politics. I quickly adjusted and moved ahead with my life because I have learned how to adjust my political career. That was a good experience for me because it was the first time and it was a baptismal of fire in a political terrain. That exactly is what gives me the confidence to say that I want to come out for the governorship in 2015 to bail my people out of the abject poverty, despite the resources available in the state.

    Why do you want to become the governor of Delta state?

    Our people need a change.There is a general trend now that the governorship in the state has been zoned to the Delta North, regardless of the party affiliation. Since the state was created 22 years ago, nobody from the Delta North has been governor. Although, we had two deputy governors; one under Ibru Administration and one under former Governor James Ibori. They both tried their best, but as we all know, they are just political stooges. They could not properly fix the Delta North to the political power control of the state because the Delta Central and the South, which comprise of the Urhobo felt that we have the capital, therefore, no way for us to produce the governor. The late Mrs. Mariam Babangida was able to secure the capital for us. So, they say they will always produce the governor. That is their mentality. But we are saying no, it is our turn. Therefore, I believe that this is the right time for us in the Delta North to produce the governor. That is one of the reasons. Secondly, with my experience, my exposure in governance, leadership and management, I think it is time for me to contribute to good governance in my state. Transparency, good governance, disciplined management will bring back our lost glory in the state. The only thing you can see in Delta today is the federal road from Benin to Warri or Benin to Asaba. No other thing. Industries are broken down completely. The little renovation that was done by Ibori, which ought to have continued by Uduaghan, has been stagnated. An average Deltan sees Ibori as a better governor because Ibori was able to provide better infrastructure than Uduaghan who has no plan to improve the standard of living of our people. By 2015, his tenure will end. He spent 50 percent of his time going to court fighting Ogboru for no reason spending 70 percent of the time fighting the militants. So, by the time we get there in 2015, I am going to focus on proper infrastructural development and bring back the failed industries. For instance; the Asaba textile mill was the best mill industry in Nigeria which can employ over 5000 workers. We had the best football team in those days comparing with the Rangers and other top football clubs in Nigeria. We have the biggest palm oil victory that can employ 7,000 workers. These two industries are dead. So, through these industries, we can create over 12,000 employment for our people and that will reduce crime. Now on the power sector, it is a shame that if you lodged in hotel in Asaba today, you can spend three or more than that without seen the power supply by PHCN. All the banks, industries, companies and even the individuals live on generator. 80 percent of the time in the state, they use generator even in the government house. Meanwhile, when I asked, I find out that we are still generating power from Onisha and we have gas in Delta.

  • That Deltans may live well

    That Deltans may live well

    If governance was an Olympic sport, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State would surely be a gold medallist. Since he took over the reins in the oil rich state, he has done so many things that have brought smiles to the faces of Deltans. By virtue of his achievements, the governor has etched his name in the good books of history. He will be remembered as one of the best leaders the state ever had.

    Unlike other governors who devote all their resources to a singular sector, Uduaghan’s achievements span across various sectors that are critical to the development of the State. There is virtually any sector that has not been transformed under his administration.

    I am particularly interested in the health sector where the governor has continued to blaze the trail for other states. Perhaps because of his background as a Medical practitioner, he understands that good health is germane to the development of the society. With the avalanche of initiatives he is introducing in the health sector, Dr. Uduaghan is working to ensure that Deltans live a healthy and prosperous life. He is giving credence to the words of Mahatma Gandhi that the wealth of a nation can only be measured by the health status of its people not just with pieces of gold and silver.

    At the twilight of his first term in office, the governor initiated a free health care delivery programme for old people in the state. Some naive critics who did not share in his vision were quick to dismiss the initiative as another campaign gimmick. But the governor has proved them wrong by sustaining the scheme. As of today, free and quality healthcare is available to anyone above the age of seventy in the state.

    The mother and child healthcare programme is yet another initiative of Uduaghan’s administration that deserves commendation. Before now cases of infant and maternal mortality were rampant especially in the rural areas within the state. The governor was able to stem the tide by providing free medical services for pregnant women, nursing mothers and their babies at various locations around the state. The best thing about this initiative is its grass-root approach. Unlike what obtains before where pregnant women had to walk several miles to get treatment, the Mother and Child initiative takes the treatment to them because the centres are located in various parts of the state. Although there are still some challenges, it is obvious that there have been a significant reduction in cases of infant and maternal mortality in Delta State. We should not forget that reduction of maternal and child morbidity is one of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. It is not for nothing that the Nigerian Medical Gynaecology and Obstetrics Association recently honoured Dr. Uduaghan with a fellowship award as a result of his laudable programmes in health care delivery. To be honest, he deserves more than that because there is no one in the history of this state that has done better than him in the health sector.

    Governor Uduaghan’s passion for a disease-free Delta is infectious. It is therefore no surprise that he has gone as far as partnering with private organisations in his effort to rid the state of various deadly diseases. In the wake of the devastating flood that ravaged some parts of the country about two months back, Delta State collaborated with Pfizer Nigeria to vaccinate about 2,000 children with Pneumococcal vaccine, PCV 13 in the Asaba, Kwale and Isoko camps for flood victims in the State.

    In a relief camp that houses various categories of people, the Pneumococcal vaccine is a proactive step that would help curtail the spread of Pneumococcal diseases that are usually common such environments. It is on record that of all the states that were affected by the flood, only Delta did such.

    It is hard to talk about Uduaghan’s strides in health without mentioning the state-of-art facility at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara. With the massive investments on ground there, the governor has not only brought quality health care closer to the people, he has made Delta the envy of other states. It is a source of pride for every Deltan that our Teaching Hospital that is barely three years old successfully carried out the first knee replacement surgery in Nigeria.

    To further demonstrate his commitment to quality healthcare for Deltans, the governor recently led a team of delegates to the United State to sign a memorandum with the University of Texas.

    At a time when deaths from terminal diseases are becoming rampant, the governor is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to ensure that his people live a healthy life.

    It was heart-warming to learn that the DELSUTH and the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Centre (UTSMC), would work together to develop a centre of excellence for kidney transplant and treatment of kidney related cases. With this development, the Dialysis Centre, Laboratory, Radiology and Theatre Departments of DELSUTH will be upgraded to become centres of excellence where world-class treatment can be accessed.

    The implication of this is that Deltans and other Nigerians suffering kidney related problems can get quality treatment without going abroad since facilities for nephrology and kidney transplant will be available at DELSUTH at a cheaper rate.

    Like the governor rightly noted while signing the memorandum, the centre will boost medical tourism and enhance the internally generated revenue of the state.

    To in his usual ways of backing words with actions, the governor has promised that the next ten month will be dedicated to putting infrastructures and personnel in place for the take-off of the centre. This will no doubt create jobs for more people in the state.

    For everyone who lives or knows about health care delivery in Delta before Uduaghan’s administration, it is hard not to doff your hat for him. What he has done in that sector is highly commendable. Today, Deltans both in rural and urban parts of the state who used to throng other states for treatment of various ailments now enjoy quality healthcare without paying much.

    • Oghenerkaro, a medical Doctor writes from Warri