Reactions Trail Okowa’s Assertion Of Using ’18 Months To Study Storm Water Drainage Project’

Governor of Delta State Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa has come under fire for asserting that it took his administration 18 months to research the storm water drainage projects being executed in Asaba, the state capital, and the twin cities of Warri and Effurun.

According to BIGPEN NIGERIA (www.bigpenngr.com), Okowa responded to a question from Pararan Mock News by stating that he spent the first 18 months of his administration researching ways to deal with the flood threat that frequently afflicts Asaba rather than jumping into the construction of gutters as previous administrations had done. 

In the interview monitored by BIGPEN NIGERIA, Okowa who is PDP vice presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, stated that after conducting a feasibility study on the flooding problem, he got to work and started the multi-million naira storm water drainage project, which significantly reduced the flooding problem in the state capital.

With a staggering N19 billion naira, he claimed to be replicating the same project in Warri and Uvwie council areas of the state in order to start the reconstruction of the Warri City Stadium, which he said had been put on hold up until this point due to the stadium’s frequent flooding whenever it rained.

According to www.bigpenngr.com, the initial contract for two of the projects was given to CCECC Ltd. and Levant Construction Ltd. for a total of N9.5 billion. 

Okowa, who spoke in the widely used Nigerian pidgin English, denied that his administration had neglected Warri and its surrounding areas in favour of Agbor. He added that it was untrue that he had abandoned Warri.

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 “That statement is untrue.” As I mentioned to someone the other day, when I first arrived in Asaba, I noticed how the water was flowing throughout the entire city and ruining things. Because of the flooding, none of the roads could be used. The first thing I did was take the first 18 months to study because if you rush like the previous administration rushed to start digging gutters, the problem won’t be solved. So we started this project called ‘storm water drainage’.

“We did eighteen months of feasibility study of it, which was approved, and we started the drain and found out that water was flowing out smoothly and was no longer stocking in one place. We therefore began building roads with the idea that they would last.

“After we finished doing that, we began holding town hall meetings with our constituents, from local government to local government. “In 2018, we travelled to Warri, where the late Emmanuel Okumagba, king of the Okere-Urhobo Kingdom, raised the issue of Warri’s roads not holding up to flooding. 

“That none of the roads being built in Warri are durable. That if roads are built today, they will be gone in less than a year or six months. The roads were typically washed away by that flood because flooding always carries everything along with it. The roads won’t function until we start draining the area, as we did in Asaba, which we had just begun; at that point, the project was still in its early stages. So we went back and did the study for Warri again.

“The same consultant that we used for Asaba, including some of the elders who are aware of the blocked water channels in Warri, was engaged again.

“So we made the decision to begin the project as soon as they completed the consulting work. 

“The two projects that were given out are now in progress in Warri. If you visit Warri right now, you will see that many locations are still under construction as workers build those large drains that will remove water from the area. 

“After review, the total contract value was N19.billion. This applies to the two projects. 

“However, because all they can see is the drain’s exterior from both ends, people might not realise the enormous amount of work being done. In order to completely drain the waters, some of the houses along the road were damaged, and the owners received compensation.

“When we finish the contract, which should happen soon since I was told that they’ll finish it up by this dry season, you can start building roads with confidence that they will last. At that point, I’ll also know that we now have a way of controlling the water.

“Therefore, patience is key, but some people are unaware of this. Before, I could have simply taken that N19 billion and started constructing roads all over Warri, to their admiration, but that road would have washed away in no more than a year, so these are some of the things we thought about. 

“I don’t want to take part in that. People were still complaining when we began the Asaba project that we started that we were doing nothing, but when we finished and the road construction began, people began to rejoice because the roads would last. 

“Even some people who sold their homes due to flooding that was sweeping them away are now regretting their decision because by the time we finished the drain, those who had left their homes were now enjoying them since we had tarred roads everywhere. 

“Even the Warri City Stadium, I recently awarded the contract for the stadium renovation. Flooding was the reason I put it off in the past. As beautiful as the Warri stadium was before, once it rained, the entire area became flooded, and for the next seven months, nobody used it.

“But now that the drainage project has advanced, I know that work will start in the stadium in the coming months, and the stadium will come to life. 

 “Also keep in mind that we are still constructing some roads in Warri, but let’s focus on finishing these projects. You have to have a big heart to accept the challenge of putting this drainage system in place to stop the threat of flooding.

“It took a lot of courage for me to invest N19 billion in a project where the majority of the drain will be buried beneath the ground. No matter the issue it causes their people, some people won’t want to do that. 

“They prefer to do things that people will notice, but I prefer to work in a way that will endure for future generations, so that when children who have not yet been born come to ask questions, they will be told that, yes, this place was not like this before, but that it is now because of the governor’s work. 

“Asaba is settled now, and Warri, by the grace of God, will be settled, but even though we have not built most of the roads, once we finish those drainage projects, the person coming after me won’t have difficulties building good roads. This is the result of planning and being realistic with your people.”

But the interview has been met with conflicting responses. The governor’s assertions that it took him 18 months to research the flood issue sparked discussion among some Nigerians about how he and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate, intend to run the country if elected. 

Some of the comments are reproduced below;

• Godfrey Wanogho: I feel sorry for the humbleness of pararan. Okowa should be ashamed of himself. You are digging gutters and you call them drainage. The ones you see in America and UK are they gutters? Check my profile. I worked in that area for over 26 years and retired. There is what we call “ Water & Sewerage Treatment “ Here in a City like Warri or Asaba that has water or flooding issues, you need to establish a network of drainage systems that will drain the flood water to a “Combined Sewerage Overflow “ facility to be treated and returned to a general treatment plant for proper treatment and disinfection before returning the effluent to the river.
  The above will generate massive employment and reduce hardship for Deltans. Okowa you spent billions to dig gutters. There is God ooo.
• Benjamin Okagbare:  That’s true, refinery road leading to jakpa road by new layout to Ekpan river, not only there enerhe okumagba i don’t know of itsekiri side but i know Udu and more. The man work for here but that technical college for refinery road and control traffic and more. God bless you governor.
• Praise O. Edoja: Almost 8years now, the project is yet to be completed and you still believe Okowa lol. Okowa go use 2mins wash you to Dey see Delta State like Dubai for your head until you go round for real life.He’s emphasizing on N19B when he don receive over N2.8trillion besides the borrowing and the rest yet no tangible evidence. Abegeee
• Oniovo Lee: Okowa remains the best governor in Nigeria, except in Delta state. God bless oúr incoming vice president
• Igelige Ovouzorie Kate: Oniovo Lee u normal at all so
• Prince Sunny: 18months to study the terrain na war u want go
• Ridwan Kadiri: Prince Sunny wrong combination, between him and Atiku, how can you use 18monnths to study before approval in a capital city where you contested election. It shows he never understand the state before campaigning for election.I can’t say more than this.
  A man that is almost completing his 8years tenure.
  Who’s campaigning for VC slot for the whole federation.It shows that if you give him chance at the federal level him and his principal will use 3years to study Nigeria and use the remaining 1 1/2 years remaining to save for their family.Okowa is a failure in Warri.
• Aruriere Martins Egharhevwa: Clueless. So you spent EIGHT YEARS constructing drainage. Is that what you spent over SEVEN TRILLION that you have received so far on?
• Tochi Amadi: I school at Essi college I lift warri 2007 and came to warri last year 2021, and I wept because nothing new in warri, No development at all
• Blessings Germany: Okowa okowa okowa how many times I call you, you use almost 8 years to study drainage, na only God go judge you people
• Sunny Yeriman: Blessing Germany to the best of my understanding I think they concentrate on other sections based on the funds available and thus are now working in that of warri now. Let’s be sincere u can’t do all at once.
• Lucky Ajamikoko: GOD ALMIGHTY will continue to bless you, protect you and your entire family for your good heart towards our dear delta state, I stand with Okowa till infinity.