Why DTSG Repaired Abraka Section Of Sapele-Agbor Road Being Done By FG –Akpowowo

By Daniel Dafe

Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Olorogun (Barr) Arthur Akpowowo, has revealed that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is responsible for the repairs of the Abraka section of the Sapele-Agbor Road.

Days ago, work began on the said portion of the road that was left abandoned for a long time. But, what was missing was who was responsible for the repairs as there were no clues around the project area to decipher who was behind the repairs.

Residents in Abraka on Thursday took to Facebook in a heated argument with some claiming the Federal Government was in charge of the reconstruction while others gave credits to  Oborevwori.

Attempts to speak with the state’s Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, on the matter, proved abortive as he did not pick calls to his mobile phone number and did not reply to a text message sent to him.

Thus, this reporter contacted the Deputy Speaker who represents Ethiope East constituency in the state assembly since Abraka is one of the areas under his jurisdiction.

Speaking to Barr. Akpowowo via a telephone conversation on Thursday night, he said: “I am a legislator, I am not in the executive but it is also my duty to promote the projects that are being carried out by the governor of the state because I approved money for him by way of budget.”

He added: “The truth is that, to the best I know, that road of Sapele-Agbor is under contract and I am sure you would have noticed that they are working on Sanubi area. It is the same company that is doing the Sapele to Eku that is supposed to do that road to Agbor and … however, I had a discussion with a top government official who told me that the governor has approved and released funds for intervention on the Abraka axis from the NUT junction area to the police station junction.  I was drawing his attention to the fact that a company is already working and I am sure that they will move towards that end. The government official now told us that if we wait for that company, with the way they are slow, we may not achieve that side before the rain and if the rain comes, people will continue to suffer and begin to blame the state government again not having the knowledge that that road is a federal road.

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“So, to the best of my knowledge, I am aware and I had a discussion with a top government functionary who told me the governor has approved palliative work and repair on that axis that is making us to divert into town.

“I also saw the argument on Facebook where somebody said by tomorrow the state government will put signboard to establish that they are the one constructing the road. I don’t think it’s NDDC at all because there was a time a friend of mine that I met in Abuja told me that he is going to work on Eku-Abraka through NDDC. So when the work started, I called him and he said that he is not the one. That it is the same company that is doing that Sapele Road that is doing it. So, I want to believe and I can say to a large extent that it is the state government that is doing the road of the Abraka axis. Also, if by tomorrow they mount that signpost, it will also show who is doing it.”