By Eseoghene Emuke
The Warri Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has described as shameful the deplorable states of roads and drains in the twin-cities of Warri and Effurun in Delta State.
It however appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to make concerted efforts to restore life to the two cities it described as the economic hubs of the state.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its congress on Monday December 23, the union said the two cities deserved better attention and lamented that the current state of roads in the area is an eyesore to both residents and visitors.
The communiqué signed by the chapel chairman and secretary, Mr. Okies Veeky and Joe Ogbodu respectively , however, commended the newly created Warri, Uvwie and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA) for the cleanup of dirts along the medians of Ekpan/NPA Expressway.
It particularly bemoaned the state of unmotorable roads along 1st Marine Gate and 3rd Marine Gate leading to Gbiaye Street, popular Enerhen Junction, Effurun Market, Apala Road, Mcaiver Roadabout, Oilfield road, Uti road, NNPC Housing Complex Road and PTI Road by Masoje Junction.
According to the union, other roads such as 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 also deserved urgent attention from the state government.
The communiqué read, “That Congress expresses gratitude to the Warri and Uvwie Development Agency for the ongoing clean-up of refuse at road medians along Effurun roundabout and NPA and the award of contract for the construction of underground drainages to mitigate the perennial floods in Warri and Uvwie axis.
“That the NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel has, however, noticed that Warri and Effurun are shamefully bedeviled with deplorable roads and blocked drainages which has been resulting in perennial floodings year-in, year-out in Warri and environs.
“That 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 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.”
Warri NUJ further bemoaned that beside the deplorable state of roads in the two cities, Warri, Effurun and their environs have become a displeasing enclave of filth as indiscriminate refuse dumps by residents have taken over various parts of the areas.
The communiqué also called on Governor Okowa-led administration to urgently resume construction works on the now abandoned expansion of the Effurun-Sapele road linking Enerhen Junction to alleviate the suffering of the residents and commuters plying the busy road.
“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”, it added.
