Warri-Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency (WUEDA) has a mandate. Is the agency on course? Is the Director General, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, a former Secretary to the Delta State Government living up to his name as a strategist? Stella Sanu, the agency’s Public Relations Officer provides insights
It is no longer news that the Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency (WUEDA) is progressively delivering on its mandate to bring about the needed development in the area as it is currently embarking on numerous massive projects.
The agency which started off incipiently by creating a positive change in the environment through a clean-up exercise, clearing off dirt in most areas especially the median along NPA Expressway, Effurun Roundabout, DSC Roundabout and other adjoining areas truly gave the twin cities a facelift.
Also, WUEDA in upholding a clean environment for the people, has evacuated large numbers of illegal dump sites that has being in existence for decades within the area and also involved the Private Sector Participants (PSP) in ensuring appropriate disposal of refuse, as well as embarked on enlightenment campaign through town criers in different strategic places, such as motor parks, business areas etc, in its sensitisation campaign on the need for clean environment.
The Director General of the Agency, who is a former Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG) Comr. Ovuozourie Macaulay, described in many quarters as proactive and strategic, did not mince words when on one occasion he declared, “I am not here to play politics. My task is very clear and simple. I’m here to restore cleanliness and development to Warri, Uvwie and its environs.”
Indeed, he is undauntedly acting on his words, with his enormous wealth of experience and understanding of the dynamism in the work of the agency. He affirmed that the integrity of jobs by the agency must be protected, stating: “I don’t want haphazard job.”
According to him “I will not seat in my office waiting for site engineers report, I will be coming out to see the level of work done”, which has helped in great measure in the progress of work ongoing.
The agency is currently embarking on the following projects: Construction of Access Road to Federal Housing Estate in Ugborikoko, Uvwie LGA, handling by the Contractor, Messrs Neodede Nigeria Enterprises; the Rehabilitation/Asphalt overlay of Apala Road, Okumagba Layout in Warri South LGA, handling by the Contractor, Sharpston Company Ltd; flood Control Measures in Effurun/Warri and Environs (Phase I), at Warri South LGA, handling by the Contractor Levant Construction Limited; Flood Control Measures in Effurun/Warri and Environs (Phase II) at Uvwie LGA, handling by the Contractor CCECC; Rehabilitation of Failed Sections Between NPA and Chevron Gate U-Turn in Uvwie and Warri South LGA, handling by the Contractor Obafua Nig Ltd, and; The Construction of Trapezoidal Drains on the Median along NPA Expressway, handling by the Contractor, Messrs Dabemi Nigeria Enterprises.
There is no doubt that the completion of the above projects by WUEDA will ultimately end the perennial flooding challenges faced in the area, attract investors, and bring about the needed change and development that the people desire.
Also, the agency has visited various sites where illegal structures are obstructing waterways, and awareness campaign is ongoing in that regards for people to remove such structures or risk demolition of same when the time comes.
Apparently, with WUEDA pivoting a new dawn in the environmental renewal of the area, people of Warri/Uvwie and environs are sure going to feel the impact of the Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration as his vision in establishing the Agency is rapidly becoming impactful with regards to the numerous significant projects being carried out by the Agency, and this according to the DG is not restricted to Warri and Uvwie alone, but extends to some other parts of Udu, Okpe and Ughelli South local government areas.
Suffice to say that, the Macaulay-led agency has been able to ride steadily on a sustained progress towards creating a new metropolitan Warri/Uvwie city.
Governor Okowa, with the establishment of WUEDA has written his name in gold in the sand of time and surely, the verdict of history will be kind to him and Comr. Macaulay’s team.
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