Delta govt, traders trade words over ground storm project

Delta State government has appealed to traders at the popular Ogbeogonogo Market in Asaba to take a break
and allow contractors to do their work.

It said their presence is slowing down the pace of work, just as it expressed frustration over the attitude of the traders.

Commissioner for Works, Highway and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze said in an interview that the project is a complex one and that the expected cooperation from the traders were lacking at the site.

But, while appreciating the project and government’s good intention to address flooding problems in Asaba, the traders alleged that the contractor seems not to have the required capacity for early completion of the project.

The Commissioner maintained that ordinarily, the traders ought to have temporarily vacated the market as remaining there poses a lot of danger, even with the heavy rains, saying that there is a tendency of mudslide in the locality.

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He said their attitude is affecting early completion of the multi-million naira under ground storm project that passes through the market to the River Niger.

According to the Commissioner, the project is part of the State government’s masterplan to rid the capital territory of any form of flooding whenever it rains.

He said it is designed to channel waters flowing from parts of the Okpanam Road, Nnebisi Road and Dennis Osadebay Way, as well as adjoining roads and streets into the River Niger.

Izeze explained that the contractor would achieve the milestone within the timeline.

Izeze stated that the traders should not blame the contractor for being slow in handling the project.

Newspot reports that the ongoing construction work has disrupted the volume of commercial activities in the market, which informed the traders’ call for speedy completion of the project.

They said since the project started, patronage has been very minimal due to the hazards created by excavation works in the area, stressing that life was becoming unbearable for them.

The ever busy Ogbeogonogo Market, located along Dennis Osadebay Way in Asaba, is the major market in the State capital, with high human traffic on a daily basis.