-Blank NEWS Online (NIGERIA):
The Communities in Warri, Uvwie and environs have been charged to embrace peace to enable the commencement of the drainage project conceived to end the perennial flooding and the attendant consequences in the economic nerve center of the state.
The Director General (DG) of Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency (WUEDA), Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay gave this charge Thursday at a meeting with the representatives of the communities at his office in Warri.
He stressed that the state government has resolved to stop the flooding challenge being faced in the area, and that it was in the interest of the people affected to cooperate with the contractors to accomplish the work smoothly.
“Peace is indispensable in achieving development, you must collaborate with the government and the contractor to ensure that the target of stopping this flooding menace is realized once and for all.
Please go back to the elders and youths and advise everyone to be peaceful, and not disrupt the activities of the contractor. The contractor has the next 18 months to deliver but I know that if we cooperate with them, the job will be delivered before that period”, he stated.
According to him, the contracting firm has been urged not to employ outsiders for jobs that the community youths can easily be engaged to do, stressing that as the project progresses, more communities would be engaged while those that had been used will be disengaged.
“Communities whose areas have been handled do not need to interfere with others when it gets to their turn, to avoid dispute,” he added.
The Chairman Ekurede Itsekiri Community Mr. Olugbo Ese Abel stated that his community will support the Agency to deliver on the project because they have been suffering from flood for the past eight years.
Also the Secretary, Okere Community, Dr. Uku I. Godwin expressed optimism that things will turn out well for the communities when the project is achieved, and assured the Agency that there would be no disturbances from the youths.
Furthermore, the Ugbori Community Secretary, Mr. Abel Beji said that the youths of Ugbori Community are solidly behind the Government to do what they propose to do for the good of the people.
On his part, the Superintendent Manager, Levante Construction Limited, Mr. William Tayor stated that the study for the project is perfect, and that they will start by clearing up the waterways in the affected areas.
