Ndokwa East sets up flood committee, to partner Ndoshimili Devt Association, groups

The Executive Chairman of Ndokwa East LGA, Hon. Vincent Osilonya, has on Wednesday resolved to continue with his open door policy as he vows to make the local government a decent place to live in and carry out business activities.

The council boss disclosed this when he played host to members of Ndoshimili Development Association (NDA) who were on an official visit to his office at Aboh, the local government headquarters, saying the flood-prone council has set up a flood management committee with the welfare of council workers as a priority.

Hon. Osilonya also said that since assuming duty, they have resorted to the bottom-up approach through regular engagement with the various communities, through their respective councilors and community leaders, just as he reeled out some of his administration achievements, their focus areas, limitations, and how NDA can assist.

According to him, “The council is also engaging the relevant authorities and agencies for proper resource allocation as well as the state government for employment of health workers.

“The council has also set up a flood management committee at the council level while work is ongoing on setting up various subcommittees. We have been able to reconcile the dichotomy that usually existed between the chairman and vice, between executive and legislators, and between executive and staff.

“A survey of the condition of the markets in NELGA, with a view to renovating the ones in very bad shape and constructing new markets in communities that have none. The council has also acquired a parcel of land for the establishment of a cemetery, as the local government does not have one. The welfare of council workers has also been taken care of,”  he added.

He further explained: “The council is currently focused on sending a supplementary budget to the legislative arm for passage, and the budget contains projects such as renovation and building of markets in some communities, three blocks of classrooms in some primary schools and fencing of some primary schools, and building of town halls and civic centers for some communities.

“We shall also be building health care centers, a new administrative block that will not be susceptible to flooding, setting aside constitutionally approved two percent of the local government’s monthly allocation for agriculture, and opening up intercommunity roads to be done during the dry season.

On the possibility of the establishment of affordable housing units, the chairman said, “The council does not have the financial ability to acquire land and build for such a purpose at this point, while on electricity to all communities, the council is engaging our federal representatives to achieve that as soon as possible.”.

The chairman further requested the support of NDA in adding voice to the request made by the council for the establishment of an IDP camp for flood victims at Ozoma Ukwu Primary School, Ashaka, and that NDA should seek ways to have engagement with all relevant government officers at various levels for the needed development of Ndokwa East.

The chairman also expressed appreciation to NDA for the visit and encouraged them to continue to engage him virtually, as he is aware that NDA membership is cut across various countries.

 He also urged the group to express appreciation to the state governor on the various political appointments extended to Ndokwa East sons and daughters.

Earlier in his speech, Secretary General of NDA, Dr. Oke Michael, congratulated the chairman on his inauguration and reminded the council of its constitutional duties and responsibilities to the people.

They called for transparency in the affairs of the council, “Especially on their eleven-point demands that include flood/disaster management, agriculture and food security, and Commercial farm settlement, as well as affordable housing, education and health care.

“River-bank erosion control/shore protection in the worst-hit towns in NELGA, which include Onyah, Utuoku, Adiai-Obiaka, Abalagada, Okpai, Utchi, Abala-Oshimili and Aika-Ezeolu.

“Rural roads and construction of markets; electricity supply to all NELGA communities; proper resource allocation/renaming of oil and gas facilities; and human capital development.

“And getting our fair share from key state and federal agencies like Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, and Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, as well as the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, NEWMAP, Central Bank of Nigeria, Entrepreneurship/Empowerment Programs, State Agricultural Extension Programs and state government special projects, among others”, they added.

The NDA delegation included Dr. Oke Michael (Secretary General), Engr. Oputa Otunya (Chairman, Road and infrastructure subcommittee), Hon. Ken Obi, NDA State Capital Liaison Director and Hon. Godfrey Anagbogu