From: Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
Delta state Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has lamented the deplorable federal roads across the country, saying that they have turned death traps to motorists in the recent times.
At a media briefing on Tuesday in Asaba, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa regretted the inability of the Federal Government to make repairs of the roads over the years, adding” many of the federal roads are now death traps and there are challenges the federal government is currently facing but we are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to do the roads because residents across in the Eastern states, others may be completely cut off as all the roads have completely failed”
On bringing back the toll gates, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa urged the Federal Government to provide toll gates to major roads as they will fund many repairs of the failed federal roads if the managers are working with sincere minds.
He said” Many Nigerians may be afraid that introducing toll gates might portend another fraudulent ways of diverting funds meant for Federal Government Coffers into personal pockets, well this may be true but if they are manage by trusted personnel who will make returns for the maintenance of the deplorable roads, it will also help the Federal Government in addressing difficulties in the bad roads’ maintenance” disclosing that Delta state government took the steps to fix some Federal roads was to help those who can’t move their products to the urban areas.
Regretting that the economy was worsened by poor leadership, Okowa disclosed that the state government was facing difficulties in executing major projects, especially in schools as a result of the dwindling economy, adding that the state has 1124 primary schools with shortage of teachers, while 465 secondary schools have been difficult to maintain for poor financial situation.
“We don’t have enough funds to execute many projects, but our focus in building stronger Delta is to concentrate on the development of existing roads just as we are doing in Ughelli Asaba roads, many Nigerians don’t pay taxes except government workers, so it becomes difficult for a government to execute projects, but here in Delta we doing our best and we have established Six Technical Colleges, and we are going to establish 19 Technical Colleges across the state for Provision of employment for the graduates from the College who will not be waiting for the state government in all things”.
