Delta: NPDC/NDW OML34 JV Fix Bad Portion Of ECN Road By Transcorp Power

The Management of the NPDC/NDW OML 34JV, has opened for road user, the rehabilitated bad portion of the Electricity Corporation of Nigeria, ECN/Ekakpamre road Delta State.

The portion of the road close to Transcorp Power Station which was in a deplorable condition, was fixed by NPDC/NDW OML 34JV and opened for use on Monday by the Chairman of Ughelli South Council, Hon. Richard Kofi flanked by the company’s representatives.

The road which connects Ughelli North and Ughelli South to densely populated Udu communities including Ujevwu Train Station, was impassible for a long time now forcing motorists to detour through the bush path of the road.

The portion had at a time became a den for criminal elements who take advantage of the bad portion to rob motorists and commuters of their valuables.

Reopening the bad portion of the road for use, Hon Kofi while thanking the oil company for the gesture, said that the project was in tandem with the policy thrust of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration.

“I want to thank NPDC/NDW OML 34JV for the job they have done here. It is commendable and we, on our part would continue to create an enabling environment for them to work smoothly.

“The only request I have asked of them is to continue the skills acquisition programme they said they are already doing. I asked them to also involve the council, because we need to synergise. They are helping us to take some of the youths off the streets and also helping the state government so we, as a council are very appreciative of this road resurfacing job. As a council we are doing our best and open to any help from oil prospecting companies within our council area”, Kofi added.

Community Interface Coordinator of the company, Chief Christopher Otobrise who spoke to newsmen on behalf of the Manager, Government, Community relations and Security, Mr. Sheidu Aiguedo, said that the company decided to fix the bad portion of the road to ameliorate the suffering of motorists who ply it day in and day out to connect Ughelli town, Ughelli South and Udu communities.

Chief Otobrise said that the Chief Operating Officer of the company, Chief Edirin Abamwa, was conscious of the viability of the road to the social economic wellbeing of the host communities of OML 34 hence the rehabilitation contract was approved and done expressly.

According to Otobrise, the wellbeing of our host communities has been and would continued to be paramount so the bad portion of the road was put under reconstruction as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR programmes to the host communities.

He disclosed that the company, in furtherance of its CSR programme, recently trained over 50 youths drawn from the various OML 34 host communities and had empowered them with Starter Packs for the establishment of their various trades.

Chief Otobrise maintained that the NPDC/NDW-AMT community Investment programmes were aimed at promoting sustainable development in its operational areas and also to create peaceful co existence for its operations.

He however assured the Ughelli South local government chairman of the company’s commitment to the implemention of the GMoU package with the host communities maintaining that the company was prepared to extend its hand of friendship to the council in area of Skills acquisition for her teeming youths.