Warri, Uvwie Development Agency Awards Resurfacing of Road Projects

Director General of Warri\Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency, WUEDA, Hon. Prince Godwin Ejinyere has formally handed over the contract documents for Princess Abaje/Dotie Street resurfacing project to A & J Construction Company, the firm to handle the project.

Hon. Prince Ejinyere handed over the contract documents on Thursday after inspecting the street road at Ugbuwangue Area of Warri, urging the firm to commence work immediately. He enjoined the firm to work on the drains to ensure that water did not damage the road when completed and put to use.

In his response, the Managing Director of the contracting firm, Engr. Andy Ewino Uwejewene promised to deliver the project in record time, and according to contractual specifications.

The Chairman of the Community Task Force, Olawe Justice Izuagie thanked the Agency and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for awarding the contract, and promised that the community would not disturb but cooperate with the contractor towards a successful and speedy execution of the project.

Earlier the same day, Hon. Ejinyere said the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Elder Sheriff Oborevwori was committed to turning Warri, Uvwie and their environs into a Mega City with a difference.

The WUEDA DG gave the assurance in his office at Effurun while fielding questions from newsmen on the readiness of the Agency to deal with flood related issues in September/October this year, following warnings from local and national weather forecast agencies.

Prince Ejinyere who completed one year in office as the DG of the Agency on Thursday, said WUEDA under his watch was proactively prepared to reduce the effects of flooding in the Agency’s mandate areas by de-silting all blocked drains in the City, as directed by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

He said recently, the Governor awarded the contract for the 3rd Phase of the Warri/Uvwie flood control project to solve the perennial flooding problems in the area, stating that CCECC, the contractor for the project, had mobilized to site. According to the DG, “the project will be completed within a period of 24 months.”

Speaking further, the WUEDA DG asserted that Phase 1 of the storm water flood control project awarded to Levant Construction Company by the former Governor, had been fully completed, while the 2nd Phase awarded to CCECC, was 95% completed.

He told newsmen that payments of compensations for obstacles on the right of way of the drainage channels was ongoing but however, warned that owners of illegal structures would not be compensated henceforth, to serve as a deterrent to those who deliberately build on natural waterways expecting compensations.

He reaffirmed Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s resolve to solve the perennial flooding problems in WUEDA’s mandate areas, and advised residents to stop the habit of dumping refuse into drainages, and ensure regular de-silting of the drains in their areas to allow free flow of flood water.

While describing the media and the Agency as partners in progress, Hon. Godwin Ejinyere enjoined journalists, expecially those in Government media outfits to educate and sensitize residents on why they should keep their environments clean, stressing that “health is wealth; and cleanliness is next to godliness.”

He said the Agency under his watch hit the ground running by sensitizing residents on the need for them to routinely clean their environment, adding that the Environment Dept of the Agency and WUEDA’s Task Force on Environment were working with a Mobile Court to enforce compliance, within the ambit of environmental laws and regulations.

On the role of Local Councils in WUEDA’s mission to restore the lost glory of the Oil City, Prince Ejinyere noted that WUEDA was working in synergy with the council chairmen in its mandate areas to achieve great results.

“Defaulters had been served abatement notices, and some had already been sanctioned, in line with appropriate extant environmental laws,” he stated. He disclosed that the Agency had been evacuating refuse from many drainage channels in Effurun and Warri, advising residents not to dump wastes into the drains to avoid flooding.

Prince Ejinyere gave the assurance that WUEDA would soon face Udu, Okpe and other communities under its mandate. He appealed to residents of such areas to be patient, as “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.”