Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi has met governornor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to share conversation on modalities to ease traffic on the Second Niger Bridge as Christmas beckons
OpenLife Nigeria reports that Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on Tuesday said until the Second Niger Bridge project is completed, the high density of vehicular traffic at the Asaba and Onitsha ends of the bridge will continue to occur especially during the yuletide.
Okowa stated this at Government House, Asaba during a press conference with the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi on the strategies to control free flow of traffic on the Niger Bridge during the yuletide.
The governor said that the state government had concluded plans to set up a taskforce comprising the police, the military, FRSC officials and the Delta State Traffic Management Authority to handle the traffic situation.
He called on the military and the police to dismantle their check points around the bridge so as not to frustrate any action aimed at easing off the traffic gridlock.
Okowa stated that his administration would not cease to assist the corps with logistics in traffic management and solicited the cooperation of all in making the road safe for all.
“I am glad that the boss of the FRSC is here again this year to ensure that we have free flow of traffic across the River Niger bridge. You have done this yearly for which we are very grateful.
“Personally, I thought that there will be less of travelling this year but apparently from the brief I have, it appears that people are even travelling the more this year but I am glad that you have come to see what you men are doing in combination with the task force that we are setting up.
“It is my hope that working together, they (our taskforce and FRSC officials) will be able to ensure truly that we have a free flow of traffic at that point (the River Niger Bridge). The question is until the second Niger Bridge is truly finished, we may be going through this ritual (traffic gridlock) on a yearly basis,” the governor said.
On the second wave of COVID-19, Governor Okowa advised residents of the state to celebrate with caution, saying that the virulent pandemic was out to claim more lives.
He emphasized that churches must enforce compulsory wearing of face masks, use of hand sanitizer and strict observance of social distancing among other protocols that would keep the virus at bay.
Okowa said that the state government would soon take more stringent measures to break the chain of transmission, stressing that the virus was now deadlier than how it was when it was first discovered.
Earlier, the Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said that he was in Government House Asaba to brief the governor on the annual review meeting on how to ease off traffic at the bridge head, Asaba.
Dr Oyeyemi said that his men had been deployed to the area to ensure that no passenger or other road users was stranded on the Asaba/Onitsha route during the festive period.
“This is the sixth in the series of our annual review meetings in respect of the end of the year patrol operations especially as it concerns the major corridors in the southern part of the country.
“I have deployed additional personnel; I deployed 600 yesterday to Anambra and this morning, we are deploying over 652 personnel to Delta State. We have mobilised our two heavy duty recovery vehicles if there is any breakdown of vehicles on the road.
“One thing I want to inform the public is that there is unprecedented increase in vehicular density on the nation’s highways this year. Today (Tuesday) is December 22, 2020 and since Sunday, December 20, we have witnessed vehicular densities.
“So, there is need for extra patience on the part of road users. We have tackled the other problem at Onitsha end; so, there is no obstruction there and with the heavy-duty recovery vehicles donated by the state government, we can promptly remove any broken-down vehicle,” he said.
While commending Governor Okowa for his sustained support through vehicles and other logistics, the corps marshal advised all road users to be patient and obey traffic rules while on the road.
He said that the corps would enforce all rules that would ensure safety on roads and the fight against COVID-19 spread, and advised all motor parks to comply with the federal government’s protocols against the virus.
In the same breadth, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has commended the outgoing 25 local government council chairmen in the state for their contributions in promoting peace and unity in their respective areas.
Okowa gave the commendation during the end of tenure thanksgiving service by the outgoing council chairmen which was held today at the Government House Chapel, Asaba.
The governor, who was speaking during the service, noted that many of the outgoing council chairmen had immensely assisted the state government in addressing security related issues in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
He disclosed that many of the outgoing council chairmen had done what they could do to the best of their abilities, pointing out that Deltans should appreciate the fact that they came on board at a challenging moment.
“You have done what you can do to the best of your ability. Many of you have assisted the state government in addressing security related issues in your various local government areas.
“It is my hope that our people should recognise the fact that you came (assumed duties) at a challenging moment and despite that, you were able to do your best,” the governor added.
Governor Okowa pointed out that, for no fault of council chairmen, local government councils had become salary paying local governments as a result of the fact that funds were not enough to execute other projects.
“This is not the best of time to be a local government council chairman. However, I am convinced that you have put in your best in the last three years.
“I believe that as you leave office on the 5th of January, 2021, you will leave as happy men. One thing that gladdens my heart is that you will be leaving office without owing workers’ salaries,” the governor said.
According to him, it was through God’s divine intervention that local government councils were able to clear salary arrears owed their staff through the Paris Club refund, adding that when the second tranche of the Paris Club refund came, the state government had to release another five billion naira to assist them (local government councils) in paying their workers’ salaries.
While urging Deltans to work from informed positions, the governor said “I can assure you that no local government council in the country has the kind of burden local government councils in the state has.”
He, therefore, wished them (the outgoing council chairmen) well in their future endeavours in life, even as he urged them to faithfully remain in communion with God in all that they do.
In a brief exhortation, the Special Adviser to the governor on Religious Matters, Senior Apostle Sylvanus Okorotie applauded the outgoing local government council chairmen for deeming it necessary to come together to give thanks to God for the opportunity He (God) gave to them to serve as council chairmen in their various local government councils.
Apostle Okorotie, whose message was titled “Better Is The End Of A Tenure Than The Beginning” taken from the Bible book of Ecclesiastes chapter seven, verse eight, highlighted the importance of thanksgiving to God, adding that thanksgiving opens doors of unlimited opportunities.
In his speech, the state Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Itiako Ikpokpo said members of the association have every reason to give thanks to God for keeping all of them alive, just as he thanked Governor Okowa and other stakeholders for their immense support to them.
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