CDHR Tasks LGA Boss To lmprove On Well-being Of Udu People

By Oguns Sammy (Warri)

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Udu Unit in Udu Local Government Area of the state, has tasked the Chairman, Udu Local Government Area, Chief Hon. Jite Brown to do what is humanly possible to improve on the general welfare of the people for them to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

The group made this call when the Coordinator of CDHR Udu Unit, Comrade Charles Oviri led his Executive members on a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Udu Local Government Area in his office recently.

Comrade Oviri raised many issues especially on how the people can enjoy the dividends of democracy.

He said it is no longer news that Udu LGA has been faced with high level of restiveness over the years on the part of the youths, adding that many of the youths are into various crimes ranging from drug abuse, cultism, armed robbery and other forms of crimes in the area.

He said these crimes were due to the failure of past governments to equip the primary and the secondary schools in the area with the right facilities and equipment for effective teaching and learning to take place.

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He added: “Many of the youths are into drug abuse, kidnappings, cultism and other social vices because the past successive governments have failed to engage the youths at school by providing the schools with facilities and equipment for effective teaching and learning to take place.”

The Udu Unit CDHR Coordinator who was accompanied by the state Chairman of the body, Comrade Jonathan Giama, and other members of the Executive frowned at the situation were community Executives either hold on to power after the expiration of tenure or extend the same power to their family members instead of handing over properly.

Speaking further, Comrade Oviri also frowned at a situation where motorcyclists, tricyclists, commercial drivers and lorry drivers park their various vehicles at the junction leading to Ubogo Community and express way thereby obstruting the flow of traffic, adding that such actions have, times without number, caused accidents which have claimed lives and prosperty.

Comrade Oviri also complained of Jigbale Market which he said, affects the flow of traffic and therefore urged the council boss to relocate traders in the market to Udu Harbour Market saying, this would help to decongest the place for flow of traffic.

Udu Unit CDHR Coordinator also said vehicles and tricycles coming from New york junction and Owhase Road also cause improper flow of vehicles on the main road, and therefore suggested that Owhase Road through Orhuwhorun Junction should be one way in, and New York junction be one way out.

Comrade Oviri said, the power sector has been privatized and urged power company incharge of Udu Local Government to make electricity and prepaid metre available for all electricity consumers in the area, adding that inadequate power supply leads to underdevelopment as it affects the economic well- being of the people.

He said: “We know the importance of electricity, it is used in the various industries and the economy can be grounded to a halt in the absence of power.”‘

Besides the above , the body also discussed the issue of health centre. Comrade Oviri said there ought to be a mini-hospital that will take care of the primary health needs of every citizen of the LGA, adding that for now, majority of people see it as a home for only pregnant women.

According to him, when a major health situation arises, the nurses are unable to handle it and therefore suggested that the place be properly renovated and equipped with modern health facilities for nurses and doctors to perform their duties effectively.

The co-ordinator also raised the issue of electricity in the health centre. He said the sign post and board should be positioned at strategic positions where visitors and strangers can easily locate the health centre for maximum use.

“The sign post in the centre is not conspicuous enough to enable strangers locate the health centre to access medical attention, so,.it should be done well in this regard,’ he opined.

The body also raised issue of teachers which are lacking in the schools,.adding that lack of teachers and corruption in the primary and secondary schools have hindered effective teaching and learning process and therefore urged the council boss to laise with state government to ensure teachers are employed and posted to the various schools in the area.

Not left out is the attitude of companies operating in the area as many of them no longer perform their social and corporate responsibilities to the various communities.

He said that they are supposed to provide social amenities such as roads, bore- holes, electricity, sholarship schemes and general empowerments to the people.

The group therefore promised to work with the council boss to take Udu LGA to the next level.

Responding, the Chairman, Udu Local Government Area, Chief Hon. Jite Brown thanked the body for the visit and promised to look into the various issues raised and put machinery in motion to see that the council take its place in the scheme of things.

He said: “l thank you for your visit. These issues you people have raised are noted and the council is ready to parner with you in this regard.