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Delta to Inject $40m Into Songhai Amukpe Agric Project
Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
A total of $40 million is to be injected into the upgrade of agricultural research programmes and projects at Songhai Delta in Amukpe-Sapele under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, the Delta State Government has announced.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this at the end of the State Executive Council (EXCO)presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in Asaba last Friday.
He said that Songhai Delta centre would be upgraded in a joint venture between the state government and a consortium of firms to achieve set goals.
In the area of empowerment and skills acquisition, he said approval was given for the third cycle of the Rural Youth Skills Acquisition Programme (RYSA) for 2022 to accommodate 810 youths in the state.
Under Delta Cares Scheme, Aniagwu said Exco approved areas one and two to take care of vulnerable groups and FADAMA project to meaningfully engage youths in partnership with the World Bank.
He noted that the Exco also approved the upgrade of facilities at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba to the tune of N1 million towards successful hosting of the 2021 National Sports Festival to be hosted in the state in November this year.
In a related development, Aniagwu said a 700-bed hostel was approved for construction at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Issele-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, which will improve accommodation for athletes during the sports festival.
“We also approved the construction of more hostels in the NYSC permanent orientation camp in Issele-Uku. It is a 700-bed space hostel in addition to the ones we had built in the camp before.
“We are also hopeful that this will be carried out on time so that that facility would likely be available for us to deplore in the course of the National Sports Festival, which is coming up in the state in November, this year,” he said.
Moreover, the commissioner stated that approval “was given for the furnishing and equipping of the Advanced Diagnostic Medical Centre as well as Mother and Child Centre, Owa-Alero in Ika North-East Local Government Area.”
According to him, Exco also approved the rehabilitation of internal roads in Oghara and Ofagbe, James Ezechi Road, Okpai in Ndokwa East, Achalla Ibusa Road in Oshimili North and Ilabor Road, Igbodo in Ika North-East among others.
The commissioner added that Exco approved the furnishing and equipping of the Asaba Leisure Park and Film Village.
On infrastructure, Aniagwu said that some internal roads would be constructed and rehabilitated across the state.
“For some, we have to embark on total reconstruction, for others they are entirely new projects; and, yet for some, they are for rehabilitation in addition to the upward review of some of the projects on account of fluctuations in prices and extension of the work that needed to be done.
“At today’s Exco we approved the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Onicha-Ugbo/Idumuje Ugboko Road in Aniocha North Local Government Area and we believe that that will add to the urban renewal drive of the state government in that area.”
Aniagwu disclosed that the State Exco also approved the construction of access road to the Model Technical College, Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government
Area as well as the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Onicha-Ugbo/Udumuje-Ugboko Road in Aniocha North.
“Beyond the roads, we also considered some other programmes aimed at alleviating poverty and indeed, improving the living conditions of our people
Moreover, Aniagwu said that Governor Okowa harped on the need for all Exco members to redouble their efforts in the finish-strong agenda of the administration.
