By Ese Adagbra
Commendations have continue to trail the Delta State Government under the leadership of Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori for intensifying its efforts in cleaning up of drains, opening of more canals and waterways across the state through the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission DESOPADEC.
Meanwhile Dr Charles Olisa, the Commissioner representing Ndokwa ethnic nationality in the Commission, has declared that the exercise will continue even in areas where work has been, done, and can be revisited from time to time to protect the people of Delta State from the impeding flash floods.
While explaining the scope of the works done so far,in Ndokwa land, Dr Olisa explained that blocked drains were cleaned and cleared at Kwale, Ashaka, Aboh, Beneku and hospital – market Road linking Ozoro Isoko North local government area.
“The drains were blocked and whenever there is rain, it leads to flash floods. So the Commission had distilled the area so that whenever there is rain, there will be easy flow of water. It has reduced flash flooding and the people of the community are happy “Reacting to cries of the people of Aboh community that if the major canals and waterways leading to the community are cleared flashflood will be a thing of past, Dr Olisa assured.
He promised to reorient the people on the negative social/ economic implications of the indiscriminate dumping of dirt leading to blockade of drains and waterways, even though he acknowledged the fact that it is difficult to change people way of living.
A former councilor of Ndokwa East local government area in Aboh, Pastor Louis Ogene commended the Delta State Government through DESOPADEC for the clearing and distilling of drains but however added that, Aboh is flooded because sand has blocked the natural waterways of River Niger and it is the clearing of the waterways and canals leading to the Community that will save the situation and appealed to the state government to expand the scope of its work in Aboh.
Mr Charles Ozegbe, an indigene of Aboh commended the Delta State Government through DESOPADEC for the distilling of drains at Kogwa Street and added that before the intervention the drain was blocked and the water was stagnant and after the intervention the story has changed.
Chief David Ojaide, an indigene of Ashaka commended DESOPADEC for the timely intervention of Hospital Road drains linking Oleh, stressing that when it rains the road is impassable but now the situation has changed
At Umutu in Ukwuani local government area drains were distilled, especially the Agbor – Asaba Road which was blocked making the road impassable has been cleared by DESOPADEC. According to Mrs Lisa Nwacukwu, woman leader, of People’s Democratic Party, Ukwuani expressed gratitude to the Delta State Government through DESOPADEC for cleaning and opening of the dump site, adding that, they can now access Uthonigbe side of the road which was blocked and turned into huge dump site, before now.
Mr Onome Ovadje in Oleh Isoko North local government area explained that they have been working for 7 days now on the opening and clearing of waterways and canals.
He disclosed that there was massive work at the canal at Ogbemudia-General Hospital Road linking the mechanic village Oleh.
He concluded that before now when it rains the area is always flooded but with the intervention, there is now free flow of water. The area is now free from floods. As at the time of filing this report DESOPADEC is still working in different locations across the state.