Delta state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has said that contrary to the figure being paraded by mischief makers, the actual contract value of the Asaba International Airport is 27.7 billion naira.
The governor while briefing journalist in Asaba yesterday, said that the contract of demolishing the hills at the Airport site was part of the initial contract cost of the airport.
He explained that there was no new contract awarded for the demolition of the hills but that two more contractors were engaged to assist in bringing down the hills.
“Some people wrote petition on the cost of the Airport. I want to tell you that the contract Value of the airport is 27.7 billion naira. There is no new contract cost for demolishing the hills of the Airport site,” he said, adding: “What we did was to invite two other contractors to join the main contractor to demolish the hills. The cost was all included in the contract cost of 27.7 billion naira.”
Dr. Uduaghan also announced that the Section A of the Ughelli-Asaba dualization would be terminated and re-awarded to a new contractor within the week to accelerate the completion of the project.
He said the new contractor would move to site by next week to continue from where the former contractor stopped.
The governor explained that his administration was concentrating on road construction in major cities and villages in the state during the dry season and expressed his determination to build a good net work of roads in the state.
“As a state we are on course with our agenda and building a state beyond Oil through infrastructure development. We are using Ministry of Works to handle the road contracts. DLA is carrying out repairs on some roads in the state,” he said.
He noted that his administration was also building a state beyond oil through peace and security and human capital development stressing that a lot have been achieved in these spheres.
In the area of peace and security, Dr Uduaghan said the crime rate in the state had reduced drastically as a result of the ban on Okada in major cities in the state and stated that the ban would be extended to other towns in no distance time.
In answer to a question, the governor announced that his administration would soon introduce road marshals in the state even as he explained that as soon as the bill for the introduction scaled through the State House of Assembly, marshals would start functioning and ensure free flow of traffic.
He also stated that environment Marshals would also be introduced to enforce environmental laws in the state in order to ensure a healthy sanitary culture among Deltans.
“We are still primitive about observing a clean environment. It is an individual attitude, we should learn to have a good sanitary habit. We are planning to introduce environmental Marshals to help enforce environmental laws,” he said.
Governor Uduaghan said his administration was building infrastructure in the higher Institutions in the state to bring them to modern standard and promised that the development would gradually spread to all schools in the state as soon as funds were available.
He also promised to give Delta State University, Anwai Campus a face lift even as he explained that most of the old buildings would be pulled down.
Responding, the Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalist, Delta state, Mr. Norbert Chiazor commended the governor for his support for the Union. Chiazor therefore pledged the support of the Union to Delta state government.
He informed the governor that the proto-type of the NUJ Secretariat was ready and solicited the governor’s assistance in building the secretariat.
