The Warri Correspondent Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State to as a matter of urgency fix the deplorable roads dotting the books and crannies of the twin cities of Warri and Effurun both in Uvwie and Warri South Council areas of the state.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its congress, the union said it had noticed that Warri and Effurun were shamefully bedevilled with deplorable roads and blocked drainages which have been resulting in perennial floodings year-in, year-out.
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The communique further lamented that the twin cities deserved better attention stressing that the current state of roads in the areas was an eyesore to both residents and visitors alike.
The communiqué signed by the chapel chairman and secretary, Mr Okies Veeky and Joe Ogbodu respectively, however, so precise the newly created Warri, Uvwie and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA) for the cleanup of dirt along the medians of Ekpan/NPA Expressway.
According to the communique, “Congress also noticed that many of the roads within Warri and Effurun are begging for government’s immediate attention as most of the roads are bad and not passable with huge potholes and gullies dotting them!
“That such deplorable roads include 1st Marine Gate and 3rd Marine Gate leading to Gbiaye Street, popular Enerhen Junction, Effurun Market, Apala Road, Mcaiver Road about, Oilfield road, Uti road, NNPC Housing Complex Road and PTI Road by Masoje Junction.
“Others are Jakpa Junction, Ogbemudia Road by Igbudu Market, Bazunu road by College of Commerce gate, Warri, NPA Expressway, especially by Ugbuwangue junction and Etuwewe road by Deco Road.
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“That most worrisome also is the deplorable state of the Warri- Benin Expressway by Adeje and Opuraja as well as Warri to Agbor being designated as federal roads.
“That these so-called federal roads connecting several states in South-South and South-East states have assumed the ignoble status of death traps with alarming tragedies across the oil and gas producing states.”
The communique also condemned the level of filth in the twin cities, calling on the state government to put in place genuine plans to restore the beauty of both cities.
The communique reads; “That besides, most nooks and crannies of Warri, Effurun and environs have become a displeasing enclave of filth as indiscriminate refuse dumps by residents have taken over various parts of the metropolis, blurring the aesthetic value of the oil-rich area and putting the people at the risk of imminent epidemics and other health challenges.
“That Congress equally expressed its displeasure at the perennial darkness pervading most streets in Warri and Effurun as most street lights installed by the past administration have gone bad and need urgent attention. The situation has gradually ushered in criminality especially at dusks as hoodlums now take the advantage to waylaid and dispossess people of their possessions.
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“That more worrisomely emanating from the darkness is the ignoble extermination of nightlife in Warri and environs as residents, for fear of rampaging hoodlums, now take hurried cover as soon as dusk approaches.”
“That Delta government should resume work at the discontinued expansion of the Effurun-Sapele road linking Enerhen to alleviate the suffering of the people.
“That the state government should synergize with Warri South, Warri South-West, Udu and Uvwie local government to fix the aforementioned deplorable street roads, restore moribund streetlights, engender more permanent solutions to regularly ridding the area of filth as well as restore streetlights in Warri and Effurun as soon as possible,” the communique reads further.
