Delta govt completes traditional rulers building

Delta Government on Wednesday said the Traditional Rulers’ Council building in Asaba had been completed and was ready for inauguration.

The Commissioner for Housing, Chief Festus Ochonogor, made this known while conducting newsmen round some projects in Asaba.

Ochonogor, who was in company with his Information counterpart, Mr Charles Aniagwu, did not, however, give the date the project would be inaugurated, but said it would be soon.

He also said that the new Media Centre in the Government House, Asaba, and the offices and residential quarters buildings of Secretary to State Government and the Chief of Staff under construction would be completed later in the year.

Ochonogor said that the media centre, which was inherited by the Governor Okowa administration from its predecessor, was being remodelled to meet new standard and to provide adequate accommodation for the governor’s media team.

“The press centre is an old structure inherited by this administration from the previous administration.

“The governor decided to finish the job because he believes that government infrastructure must be strengthened and that the media are very critical to governance.

“So, leaving the structure uncompleted wouldn’t be a good legacy as we are rounding off.

“We have taken note of the observations made, which is normal and we will do the best we can to try to handle some of the issues highlighted by the Commissioner for Information,” he said.

He said the gigantic traditional rulers council secretariat was a deliberate effort to provide the royal fathers a world-class meeting point to contribute in advancing a stronger Delta vision and also build a bridge of peace in their domains.

The commissioner described Governor Okowa as the “architect of modern day Delta” with his developmental efforts and called on contractors handling projects in the state to redouble efforts to meet deadlines.

He pledged to sustain visits to project sites and lauded the the contractors for the pace and quality of jobs done so far.

“The traditional rulers council secretariat project was started by Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and he has completed it. He decided to build a secretariat for traditional rulers in order to strengthen governance infrastructure.

“Traditional rulers are part of the governance as they help us at the community level.

“When they are here for discussions, they will be comfortable and we have council chambers, conference halls, library, offices, arts gallery, reception, bedrooms, kitchen, and 18 rooms apartment for the Directorate of Chieftaincy Affairs,” he stated.

On his part, Commissioner for Information, Aniagwu, said the administration of Governor Okowa would continue to embark on landmark projects until May 29, 2023 and solicited the support of all in building a Stronger Delta.

Aniagwu said that the three projects were dear to government and would be completed for the good of all, and expressed government’s readiness to providing people-oriented projects to fast track development.

On the traditional rulers’ council secretariat, the commissioner said the edifice was to provide offices for the traditional rulers and staff of the Directorate of Chieftaincy Affairs in addition to the sustenance of cordial relationship between it and royal fathers because of their imput to the peace and development of any society.

“You recall that we started from the media centre in government house where we made some comments as to the necessary adjustments that need to be made to meet the demands of the modern day.

“The governor has also made it clear that in spite of the fact that we are mid-way into the second term of his administration, he will continue to inaugurate projects until May 29th, 2023, last day in office as governor.

“For us to realise the ambition of the governor, we need to make sure the contractors are on their toes, hence these inspections.

“The governor may not have all the time to inspect these projects, hence he mandated us to come from time to time to do these inspections,” Aniagwu explained.

•PHOTO: Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu (right); his Housing counterpart, Chief Festus Ochonogor (left); and other officials  (behind)Inspecting the newly constructed Delta State Traditional Rulers Council Secretariat in Asaba, Wednesday, 17/3/21. PHOTO: JIBUNOR SAMUEL.