DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has said that apart from social benefits, economic variables were highly considered before roads are awarded for construction.

Fielding questions from journalist shortly after a recent inspection of the progress of work done on a 7.6 kilometer Umeh Road in Isoko South, local government area of the state, Governor Uduaghan disclosed that in line with his commitment towards Delta Beyond Oil economic variables were paramount for executing projects in the state.

“This is an economic viable road in line with our aspirations towards achieving the policy thrust of Delta Beyond Oil and this road will open up the rural communities for them to take their agricultural produce to the cities,” the Governor said.

He observed that when completed, a lot of communities would benefit from the road, adding that it was estimated to be completed within 18 months but the flood which ravaged coastal communities especially, communities in Delta State affected the project.

According to the Governor, while the flood washed away the sand, it also threw up the challenge of constructing a bridge where box culvert was designed to be constructed.

He assured the people of Umeh and those who will make use of the road that efforts are on to complete the stone base work of the road and possibly, tar the road before the rains becomes much

Dr Uduaghan commended the people of Umeh for ensuring that the construction company’s operations were not hampered reiterating his commitment towards serving the people of the state selflessly.

Also, the Governor yesterday inspected ongoing projects in Ughelli, Ekpan and Warri.

The Governor who was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Government House, Dr Festus Okubor and civil commissioners while at Ughelli, inspected the schools being constructed and the level of work done at the dual carriage way.

He expressed satisfaction at the level of work done at the culvert being done on Housing Complex road, Ekpan and also, expressed satisfaction that the contractor handling the refinery road project, Mr Jihad Aoun has assured that asphalting of the road would be completed before May 29, 2013.

Dr Uduaghan engaged in carrying out sanitation exercise on the road, confiscation materials and wares used to obstruct the walkways saying it was sad that people were not appreciating the need not to create obstruction on the walkways.

Materials which were confiscated including a Kia Picanto with registration number, Lagos, DR 18 GGE and a Honda Accord saloon car, including vulcanizing machine, vendors stand, materials for recharge card retailers, among others were taken to the Ekpan Police Station.

At the Enerhen Junction where heavy duty equipment was seen working, Governor Uduaghan disclosed that his administration was engaged in what he called, “junction improvement project.”

He stated that the project would be executed in Warri and Asaba, assuring that when completed, there will be free flow of traffic at busy junctions.

Addressing residents and traders at Enerhen junction during the inspection, Governor Uduaghan appealed to parents to ensure that their children are immunized against polio.

“Take your children to hospitals and immunize them against polio, it is free and administered through the mouth,” he said, adding, “the campaign against polio is not about us, it is about our children”.

In another development, Governor Uduaghan, on Tuesday, April 16′ 2013 explained that the ban on commercial motorcycle popularly called okada was in the interest of the generality of the people.

Uduaghan who stated this in Warri while presenting two 50-seater buses, two 18-seater buses and 50 tricycles for use in Ethiope East local government area of Delta State, noted that it was not intended to make people suffer.

According to him, it has become necessary as investigations revealed that Okada was being used to perpetuate crime in the areas.

He reiterated that the decision to ban Okada was taken at the State Security Council meeting and not a personal decision, adding that crimes have greatly reduced in Asaba, Warri and other towns were Okada has been banned in the state.

Dr Uduaghan said 20 tricycles and the two seater18-seater buses would be used and managed by the Delta State University, Abraka (DELSU) noting that the tricycles were given to the University free, while 30 tricycles and the two 50-seater buses would be used within Ethiope East local government area.

He noted that the tricycles and vehicles had to be presented to cushion the effects of the ban on Okada operations on the people.

Responding on behalf of beneficiaries of the government gesture, the Vice Chancellor of DELSU, Prof. Eric Arubayi thanked Governor Uduaghan for being a listening Governor stating that the vehicles would be very useful as “90 per cent of our students live off campus”.