LAGOS DECEMBER 3RD (URHOBOTODAY)-Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has set in motion modalities for the completion of suspended Ughelli-Asaba road dualisation project.
Special Project Director in charge of the road, Mr. Sunny Onuesoke made the pronouncement on behalf of the Governor while speaking to newsmen during an inspection tour of the project over the weekend.
He said the state government has directed that contractors should return to site to complete the project despite the paucity of funds bedeviling the government, adding that reports from the project site indicated that contractors have mobilized back to site and construction work is currently going on as directed by the Governor
Onesoke stated that when the construction of the dual carriage way is completed, it would connect the various communities, towns and cities, opening them up for commercial activities that would also herald other economic developmental endeavours.
He pointed out that the road would be a major incentive and bait for investors to want to come and take advantage of business potentials in communities linking the expressway, adding that the value of every other initiative in the administration’s development agenda would be more meaningful and valued when such can be accessed easily by the people.
According to him, “Investors would either be encouraged to build warehouse for storage of agricultural raw materials for production or storage of finished products to be transported outside the state. Some investors might decide to establish industry here hence the road is motor able for transportation of goods in and out. Such investment will lead to provision of employment.”
He reiterated that the dualisation will bring about rapid transformation on the entire areas as well as reduce travel time for travelers and farmers taking their agricultural produce to the markets in the urban centres.
He acknowledged that with the expressway linking both the Asaba International Airport and Osubi Airport in the state, air transportation is within easy access to Deltans and investors.
“After completion of the dualisation and when investors are sure that they will convey their goods safely by road, they will prefer to berth their goods in Warri or Koko Port instead of Lagos and Port-Harcourt. They will also prefer to fly in some cargoes through Asaba airport, which is a passenger and cargo airport, and stock their goods warehouses in Asaba. The people of Delta State will benefit in term of investment, employment, increase in business activities and other social-economic activities,” Onuesoke noted.