Okowa Committed to devt of Delta — Aniagwe 

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Mr Charles Aniagwu has said no stone would be left unturned to ensure even development of the state.

Mr Aniagwu dropped the hint on Tuesday (06/06/2017) in Asaba, while addressing members of the Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria, (ACNPN).

The Governor's spokesman noted that despite the economic crises ravaging the country, Governor Okowa is working and recording successes in providing neccessary infrastructure in the state.

According to Aniagwu, "Delta State is working, paying salaries, constructing roads and other infrastructures for the good of the people, because the state Governor remains a master in resouce management. "

"Recall that our state was heavily affected by the resurgence of agitations in the Niger Delta, as it became theatre of war for the Niger Delta Avengers which culminated in our allocation dropping to N3.2billion compared to the N20 billion we used to get prior to 2014," he disclosed.

On the issue of erosion and flooding along Okpanam road, Jesus Saves and DLA road, the CPS stated, "the state government undertook a proper analysis of the situation and discovered that the existing drain cannot cope with the volume of water and mud coming from Okpanam road, we are hopeful that before the next rainy season we would have gotten it right."

"On Jesus Saves and DLA, reports revealed that any attempt to tackle the drainage during the rainy season would lead to collapse of many houses along that route.We have engaged the services of CCECC, a global construction company and they have assured us that work will commence on the project in October and will be completed within 6 months," he said, disclosing, "in the last two years, over 98 roads are being constructed and over 40 of them spanning 612 km with over 300 km drainage system have been completed across the state."

He continued, "in our Wealth creation programmes, we have kept faith with our YAGEP, STEP, GEEP, and CBN Anchor Borrowers Programmes as over 4,300 youths have so far been trained in our various agricultural and skill acquisition programmes with over 28,000 direct and indirect jobs created in the last two years."

Aniagwu further noted that, apart from road construction, the prosperity train anchored through the SMART AGENDA is sailing smoothly in the health and education sectors, assuring that "Asaba Central Hospital will be completed in the next one year while several primary and secondary schools in the state are wearing new looks with the State Government partnership with UBEC."

He commended the publishers for their roles in making government accountable to the people, saying, "the primary purpose of the media is to make the government accountable to the people and to a very large extent, the Community Newspaper Publishers have made that possible by reaching out to the masses in their various catchment areas."

"By the grace of God, with our collaborative relationship, we will work together to provide a Secretariat for the ACNPN," he emphasized while urging the publishers to build their brand.

He said, "When you are regular and consistent in your publications, you become irresistible." 

State Chairman of the Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria, Comrade Jude Obiemenyego thanked the Governor's spokesman for identifying with the publishers and urged the government to patronize community newspapers by way of adverts.