Oborevwori Reaffirms Commitment to Rural Development

Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to boosting rural economic development, with a focus on improving infrastructure and access to underserved areas. Speaking on Tuesday during an inspection of the ongoing construction of an access road to the proposed Asaba Waterfront City, Oborevwori emphasized the importance of rural development in driving the state’s economic growth.

The project, which is being executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, was initially conceived by the previous administration. Governor Oborevwori explained that the state government’s role is to construct a six-lane access road to the new city, while developers are tasked with land reclamation and the city’s overall development.

“Asaba is becoming increasingly attractive to property developers, particularly those from Lagos, as the city has become a haven for people from the South-East. They find Asaba not only comfortable but also welcoming, and the Asaba Waterfront City project aims to capitalize on this growing interest,” said Oborevwori.

The governor also noted the significant progress made on the six-lane road, with about 20% of the work already completed. However, he acknowledged that challenges remained, particularly with the relocation of buildings obstructing the right of way. To address this, the state has already released funds for compensation to affected property owners and has also provided financial support to the contractors to ensure the project’s timely completion.

“We are committed to completing this road project by July this year,” Oborevwori affirmed. “The contractors have assured us that they will meet the deadline, and if they continue at this pace, I am confident that the project will be completed by the end of the year.”

The governor also inspected the Oko-Amakom to Oko-Obiakpu main alignment road, a crucial infrastructure project designed to protect residents from flooding. The road, which is elevated one meter above the 2012 flood level, has been a vital refuge for residents during past floods. The governor noted the complexity and cost of the project, which, due to the terrain, is significantly more expensive than constructing a similar-length road elsewhere.