The construction of 6-lane access road to the proposed Asaba waterfront city in Delta state capital has commenced in earnest.
The project being executed by the state government was conceived by the immediate past administration through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model.
Speaking during the inspection of the project on Tuesday, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said the state government’s role was to construct the 6-lane access road to the new city, while the developers were expected to reclaim the land and develop the city.
He said: “Asaba is becoming very attractive to property developers who are coming from Lagos to Asaba because Asaba today is housing most of those people from the South-East.
“They are coming here because they find Asaba very comfortable and they know that we are also hospitable.
“The Asaba waterfront city project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement between the state government and the developers.
“Our obligation is to reclaim the place to give them an access route, a six-lane access road, to this place. They have done about 20 percent of this job; the challenge they are having is the buildings on the right of way.
“We have released money for compensation to the property owners and we have also released funds to the contractor for the project.
“They have assured us they will complete the road project in July; so, I have come here to look at the work that has been done and I am happy that they are on site.
“If they continue at this speed, I know that before the end of this year, the project will be completed.”
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At the 4.5km Oko-Amakom to Oko-Obiakpu main alignment road, the governor said, “this road is very important to the people of Oko; it is one meter above the 2012 flood level and the people sought refuge on the road during the last flood.
“The contractor has assured that the project will be completed in June/July this year.
“What we are spending here on this road is much more than what we would have spent in constructing a 10km road elsewhere because of the terrain.
“It is our strong commitment towards opening up rural areas to enhance the economic development of our rural dwellers.”
On Marine road in Cable Point, Asaba, Governor Oborevwori said the road was very important to the people of Asaba because of the goods that come from across the River Niger.
He assured that the State Government was working hard to clean up Asaba, stressing, “we want the best for them and I believe that this year a lot will change.”
Governor Oborevwori also inspected the ongoing construction work on Leo Okonweze and Odozi-Obodo streets, off Ezenei Avenue, in Asaba, and urged the contractors to expedite completion action on them.
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