Okowa Has Delivered Dividends of Democracy To Deltans Through Water Resources Ministry – Oboro

By Sunday Apah

The Delta State Commissioner For Water Resources Development, Rt Hon Evelyn Omavowan Oboro Esq, has stated that the state governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, had delivered the dividends of Democracy to Deltans and residents through the water ministry in the state.

Oboro made this known when the Delta State House of Assembly House Committee on Water Resources paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Asaba, the state capital.

She thanked the committee for its willingness to work with the ministry to actualise the policy thrust of the state government in the water development subsector of the state economy.

She explained that from her findings, the Okowa Administration in the past six years had done a lot for Deltans and residents through the ministry, adding that many people were yet to appreciate the achievements of the state government in the development of the water subsector in the state.

The commissioner agreed with the committee on the need for collaboration to achieve greater progress in the sector, saying that effective oversight was key in democratic governance.

She told members of the committee that some projects executed by the state government and handed over to some communities were not being properly cared for, stressing that some of such communities still expected the government to continue to maintain the projects for them.

Oboro informed the legislators that the contractor handling the Warri/Effurun Water Reservoir Project had promised to complete the first phase of the project within the next nine months, saying that over 5000 residents would benefit from it.

She also briefed the lawmakers on the state of the Ogbegonogo Water Project and the ongoing extension work in the area, saying that the ministry had started tackling some of the challenges observed during her visit to the site.

The commissioner described as laudable the Okpanam ATM Dispensing Water Project and announced plans to replicate it across the remaining 24 local government areas in the state.

Rt Hon Oboro opined that water is life and that the Okowa Administration was determined to give life to Deltans and residents through regular supply of clean water, especially to densely populated areas in the state.

Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Peter Uviejitobor, promised to work closely with the ministry towards the realisation of the set goals of the state government in water development and provision to the people in the state.

He said that the visit was to familiarise members of the Committee with the new commissioner and her management team and to seek ways for effective collaboration that would enhance the performance of the ministry.

Hon Uviejitobor acknowledged the success stories of the Okowa Administration in the provision of portable water to parts of the state, saying that much was still expected in that regard across the state.

The lawmaker who was accompanied by two members of the committee, Hon Pat Ajudua and Austin Uroye, assured of adequate budgetary provisions that would further promote efficiency in the water sector development, adding that the committee would not be found wanting in its oversight duties, just as he said that there would be routine visits by members of the committee to the sites of projects being executed by the ministry to ascertain the progress of work done in line with budgetary provisions.