Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Saturday, said the state government was connecting rural communities with roads and other infrastructure to check rural-urban migration.
Governor Oborevwori disclosed this during inspection of some completed and ongoing projects slated for inauguration to commemorate his administration’s 100 days in office.
The projects inspected included, 2.6km Okpolo-Enhwe/Uwheru Road with 4.5km side drains phase 2; 2.4km Ugolo-Okpe/Okorikpehre Road and the 4.42km Obi-Ibabu/Ibabu Road with 2km drain at Onicha-Ukwuani in Isoko South; Okpe and Ndokwa West Local Government Areas of the state.
Others include; Administrative Building; Vice Chancellor’s Lodge; Principal Staff Quarters; University Staff School and 2km Internal Road at the Delta State University of Science and Technology, Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of the State.
Representated by Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, Governor Oborevwori, said road construction brings development to communities and assured that his administration would continue to inter-connect more communities across the state.
“Road construction brings a lot of developments to rural areas. When you hear that some part of the road, people don’t live there yet, you begin to understand that government is about development.
“What we have continued to do is to inter-connect communities that will stem the tide of rural-urban drift. Once you have good roads and schools, you can begin to have buildings and this place can become a city.
“China that you hear that about 50 or 60 percent of the communities live in cities, it doesn’t mean they relocated those living in the rural areas to the cities. All they did was bring development and infrastructure to rural areas and that’s exactly what we are doing,” he said.
At the University of Science and Technology Ozoro, Governor Oborevwori said the Administrative Building was an outstanding edifice with 42 offices; the Vice Chancellor’s section, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Senate Services as well as the Registrar’s section and their staff.
He commended the University management for the various projects executed through internally generated revenue, especially the 2km internal roads in the University.
“This edifice is completely funded by government, it is comparable anywhere in the world and it is part of the projects to be inaugurated in commemoration of the 100 days in office of this administration.
“We have also inspected about 2km length of road done by the University. You will recall that this same Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jacob Oboreh was the Rector when this place was a Polytechnic and he built the stadium; he has continued in that stead.
“We have been to the Vice Chancellor’s lodge, it is near completion. If we have better information in the next two weeks, then it will be part of what we will be commissioning.
“We also inspected the lodges of other principal officers; the Bursar, the Registrar and the Librarian. They are 95 percent complete.
“There are provisions in place for the maintenance of the structures. This Vice Chancellor is exceptional, he has built several infrastructure on his own and through his internally generated revenue; so we have no doubt that these buildings will be better maintained over time”.
Commissioner for Works (rural roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu (right); Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari (2nd left); Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Godknows Angele (left); Commissioner for Special Projects, Barr. Funyei Manager (2nd right) and the Vice Chancellor of the institution Prof. Jacob Oboreh (3rd left). PIX: SAMUEL JIBUNOR
PRESS UNIT,
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