@haters

Ministry Okays Standard Of On-goging 150 Housing Units In Asaba


BY DOMINIC OKONTA
THE Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing has expressed satisfaction on the pace and standard of the on-going 150 ‘Civil Servant’s Housing Unit’ along Ibusa road, Asaba.
The inspection team led by an Assistant Director, Architectural Service in the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing, Arc Suara Akiola, expressed surprise at the pace, workmanship and amount of capital the state government has spent on the project, and said the project was commendable and affordable for state civil servants.
Arc. Akiola noted that the 150 housing units, near completion and made-up of 50 one bed room apartments, 50 two bed room apartments and 50 three bed room apartments are standard and affordable for state work force.
According to him, if the N614.9m allegedly spent was injected into the project, civil servants in state can afford to secure an apartment in the housing estate with less financial stress, ‘‘with what I’m seeing here, civil servants can afford it’’.
His words, ‘‘with this construction cost (N614.9m), spent on this big and good housing units, you have done well, you are not even using direct labour to execute this standard project, this is indeed good and that’s what the Federal Government wants too’’.
Speaking during the visit, the state Commissioner for Housing, Chief Paulinus Akpeki said that the project will be completed in six weeks time.
He said that the eight hectares land was acquired about six months ago, but noted that the contractor moved into the site and commenced operation two months ago, adding that the delay experienced arose from the misunderstanding the ministry had with the natives, which was later resolved amicably.
In spite of this little set back, the project which would be completed in six weeks time once the contractor is empowered financially, would be allocated to civil servants at owner occupy bases, adding that a system of payment will be worked out as the Head of Service would be involved.
On the cost to acquire a bed room unit apartment which according to him, cost the state government over N3.9m million, may be put at N2.8m, two- bed room flat built at the cost of N4.9m will cost N4.5m and the three bed room flat erected at N5.4m will cost N4.9m for a civil servant to own at a period of 10 years.
Chief Akpeki further said that bore hole has been constructed before the commencement of the building at the site, while the Ministries of Works, Energy and Water Resources have been consulted for the construction of access roads, electricity and potable water in the estate.
While commending the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for the responsiveness and financial commitment which led to the success of the project, he added that the cost of road, electricity, water and other infrastructure facilities construction was not included in the total cost of the construction.

Wow! Indeed EEU is doing well

I urged other state Governors to emulate Gov. Uduaghan.

I commend Governors efforts so far to better the lots of Deltans. While I urge him to so more.

COMPOL Usman Resumes Duty In Delta, Praises Uduaghan On Peace And Security


By FIDELIS EGUGBO
“I have come to Delta State to serve the government and the people, I have served in more than eleven states of the country and I have not seen this type of structure that has been put in place in Delta State, in any of those states.” Those were the words of Mr. Usman Alkali Baba who was recently posted to Delta State as the Commissioner of Police.
Apparently, Mr. Usman, as a man who desires success, must have taken stock of what he met in the oil-rich state to prepare him for the task ahead only to find out that the Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration has provided all that was needed for the Police and other security operatives to ensure the safety of lives and property.
The Police boss, who has served in eleven other states holding different positions before he was posted to Delta State, was surprised that a state governor could provide such ‘logistics’ in other to secure the state.
That was coming from someone who may not have known that the cardinal programme of Governor Uduaghan’s administration was Peace and Security and again, he was yet to also visit different parts of the state and acquaint himself with the fact that apart from the Uduaghan administration’s provision of ‘logistics’ for the Police and other security agencies to carry out their functions effectively, the Delta State government under the leadership of Governor Uduaghan had also provided the enabling environment and empowered Deltans to be positively engaged. This the governor did through providing the needed infrastructure, ensuring that the people are healthy by making health-care delivery affordable to the people and going the extra mile by providing capital for them to carry out business activities.
CP Usman, who spoke when he paid a courtesy visit on the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Monday at Government House, Asaba, was full of accolades for what Dr. Uduaghan’s administration has done to secure the state that he asserted, “we have no reason to fail in the area of providing security in this state. I am ready to take all advice and all criticisms to enable the people of Delta State sleep with their two eyes closed.”
Naturally, Governor Uduaghan, who listened to the CP, was used to such surprises by first time visitors to Delta State who do not only marvel at the level of security, infrastructure development but, also the friendly and accommodating disposition of Deltans.
The Governor who beamed with smiles of satisfaction, informed the CP and heads of security agencies who were present during the courtesy visit that as a governor, he will not compromise in the area of providing the necessary ‘logistics’ for security agencies to carry out their functions. Governor Uduaghan, who extends the same gesture to all Federal agencies in the state, believes that by empowering the agencies to perform their functions optimally, they will serve the people of the state better.
At that courtesy visit, the governor expressed confidence in the ability of conventional and constitutionally recognized security agencies to tackle criminals and criminal activities. He said, “we have refused to encourage civilian security outfits like Bakassi Boys and others because we believe the Police and other security agencies are capable of handling security challenges.”
Dr Uduaghan, who was well abreast with what could lead to security threat, was not oblivious of the fact that using civilians as security agents may not only lead to disaffection among the people, but could also lead to security agencies working at cross purposes to the detriment of the people they were supposed to protect, also stated that more than 40 identified secret societies remains banned in the state and urged the Police to ensure that nothing is heard about those secret cults, and any of their members identified should be prosecuted.
He noted that secret cult members perpetuate evils in the society and in their bid to get membership; they have spread their tentacles beyond the institutions of higher learning to secondary schools and communities in the state, actions which people who are desirous of peaceful co-existence would not tolerate.
As a politician who desires a peaceful transition from a civilian to civilian administration in 2015, Governor Uduaghan challenged the CP to ensure that any politician engaging in actions which could lead to the breach of peace is made to face the law. Though, he was full of praises for politicians in Delta State whom he decried as very peaceful and going about their campaigns for elective positions in orderly manners, he was aware that crisis could be triggered off by politicians who engage in unwholesome practices.
“We are determined to enthrone peaceful elections in Delta State … If we fall out of line, do not hesitate to whip us back to line”, Dr. Uduaghan told the CP.
It is worthy to note that Dr. Uduaghan’s administration has severally, provided Armored Personnel Carriers, (APC) and hundreds of security vans equipped with modern communication gadgets to aid the activities of security operatives in the state.
Though, CP Usman has given assurance of making Deltans sleep with their two eyes closed which they were already enjoying, his actions in the next couple of months will prove if the Yobe State-born Police officer can sustain the existing peace and make break-throughs in new areas or make Delta State a safe haven for criminals and criminal activities.
Actions speak louder than voice, and we are watching and most importantly, Deltans are praying that the state will be safer, especially during the electioneering periods. We hope that as individuals and groups too, our actions will also make the policing of the state easier for COMPOL Usman.