By Joy Odor
Senator Prince Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District has confirmed that he is the first Senator in the 10th Senator to have commissioned constituency projects captured in the 2024 budget.
Dr. Michael Nwoko, the Constituency Project Coordinator stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
He also informed that the Senator has the highest number of bills and motions, not only exclusively for the people of delta, but motions and bills that really are of urgent national importance for the benefit of the people of Nigeria at large.
Senator Nwoko who is a Nigerian Lawyer and Philanthropist commissioned a solar street lights project in Kwale local government area, one year in office.
The Lawmaker said the first phase of the project would capture three major cities across the three federal constituencies that make up Delta North Central district.
According to him, the next phase is going to be done in Asaba while the third phase will be in Agbo, Khafre constituency.
“Then, in addition to that, there are solar street light projects built for commissioning within the next few days in Aniocha, North local government area, his own community.
“There are some other interventions that he’s also processing through various MDS in order to capture more solar street light projects.
“These are areas, very critica that the distinguished senator is really looking into, because the people really are desirous of people’s rented projects that can be impactful to them.
“I recall during his election process, he made a very solemn campaign promises to the people with respect to ensuring that there is even distribution of projects across the senatorial district.
“2023 13 of June, to be precise, 2023 really was so much in a hurry to deliver promptly on his campaign promises with respect to project and some other areas, motions and bills, etcetera.
“I can tell you that he is the first senator and the 10th Senator to have commissioned constituency projects captured in the 2024, you know, budget, because that was actually his first budget.
“Yes, he has done some empowerment programs for youth, women and for farmers etc.
“And you know, we are making tremendous progress. Now, the only one solar street light project is not only going in Kwale, it’s also going to touch the three federal constituencies.
“Now, looking at other projects, such as water projects, as I speak to you, we have two water projects currently ongoing. We also have another one currently ongoing at Umunede local government area. They will be bid for commissioning within the next few weeks.
“The one for ldumu Juboko is about 90% completed already. As I speak to you, water is running now which is a very difficult topography.
“These are communities that have suffered from acute water shortage problems over the years because of the a very high topography situated over 1000 feet above sea level. That is quite high.
“But as I speak to you, the water project is about the first successful water project in Edu Joboko, and within the next few days to be commissioned. Now away from the solar street light and water project, we will now go into roads infrastructure. Yes, a few road projects were captured in the 2024 budget.
“The other day, you witnessed the mobilization of the site of contractors. They mobilized to the site at the Benin Asaba road expressway, to carry out remedial and rehabilitation work on the field sections before.
“The contract extends from the Onisha Head bridge down to Alific asis in Agbo etcetera. But because of how bad the Asaba was, they needed to mobilize more
“So that is one of the projects that really has attracted,l Agbo Abraca road is impossible right now. It’s a deployable state.
“I understand that the roads are strategic economic importance. I’m sure you know that these roads are transversed major communities and towns within delta, north central district, and they equally serve as Link roads. And so it is totally unacceptable to allow such roads of strategic economic importance to waste. And that is why we are working tirelessly.
“And apart from the 2024 budget, he has also done so much to capture more road projects in the NDDC budget that have already been passed by the Senate. What we are waiting for now is implementation.
“He has proposed a new road that will open up a VISTA, an economic hub in Delta State centera district.
“So it’s going to reduce travel time. It’s going to open up a new economic Hub, because the tourism industry will boom, boat crews will go into business and all these is also going to go a long way to address the pioneer flooding situation that has ravaged most of those communities.
“We are in the flood era now, as I speak to you, the Senator took an urgent motion today to call for urgent action by relevant agencies of government towards ensuring victims of flood are giving the needed attention in Delta, north central district, as a lot of communities now have been submerged.
“The senator has conceived an idea that can bring about permanent solutions to the end flooding situation in the area, and that is to one, he has proposed the dredging of the river Niger to ensure that water does not cross over to the land. So this is what the construction of the coastal road really is going to address.
“I can tell you that there is no community that is left on touch in the proposed NDDC budget, and we still have a lot more budget to come before the end or the first tenure of the senator.
“He was the first senator who actually did a training and empowerment program that was in November 2023, just a few months after he became a Senator involving about 260 youth and women and the robust training that they receive that can help them to add value to their businesses, etc.
“The whole idea is that when you empower a business person, for instance, it is expected that the business grows, that business expands, so that business can become an employer of labor.
Then it creates a value chain as well, and it enhances your capacity to equally provide and fend for your family.
“We’ve done about four different empowerment programs involving youth, women, farmers, Muslims and all that, you know and they were given stipends.
Speaking on health empowerment, Dr Michael affirmed that in November 2023, the senator launched the first phase of the free medical outreach program that permitted three committees that cut across the three federal consequences that make up the central district.
“We went to the primary health care center and partner with them. You may ask why primary healthcare centers, primary healthcare centers, really is the foundation for which healthcare is rendered all over the world and also closer to the people.
“If you miss it at the primary healthcare level, then it is threatened at that level that there is a problem. In order to ensure that there’s close proximity to assessing healthcare, which is actually the whole idea.
“And for universal healthcare to be achieved, there must be accessible healthcare, quality healthcare, and healthcare must also be affordable. But if you look at our society generally, you agree with me that predonmince of the people are living below poverty and so they cannot afford the healthcare.
“Then we also look at the equity plan that has to do with the vulnerable in the society, pregnant women, children at the age of five, the elderly people, the retirees.
“So on that note, the distinguished Senator thought it wise to take healthcare to the grassroot by adopting healthcare initiatives that can guarantee access to healthcare without naturally having people to pay from their pocket.
“So the Medical Outreach Programs are free, really. The people come out to assess healthcare, regular consultation, the doctors, various specialists, eye specialists, the dentist. They assess health care without paying from their pocket. And so they prescribe medications for them.
“Five eye surgeries were books.
We did one cataract extraction, then we did one excision, biopsy, then remaining two herniaries. We have taken one, one has not been taken because of a few complications, but the patient is still being monitored closely.
These surgeries would have cost that patient half a million naira but the distinguished Senator provided the funding for such a program.
“Let me tell you, no matter how benevolent the Government is, if the people are not well, they cannot think well or even comprehend the benevolence of government as they are cut off from society if they are not well. So health is really primary.
“And I can tell you that even despite the fact that the senator has performed excellently well within one year in office, and arguably, I can tell that he’s actually the best Senator we have in the 10 Senate and in Delta central, I can also tell you that arguably, he’s actually the best senator that Delta North central district has ever had, but having performed, you know, within one year in office, I can even tell you unequivocally that he has not started.
“The whole idea is to ensure that these projects are implemented in quick succession, so that the people can have them for their use, because these projects are there for public good but I have a firm belief that it will resolve because the lawmakers are equally on top of the situation.
“These projects are visible. We are in the era of practical we must use the instrument of governance to better the loss of the people.
“That is what distinguished senator believes in, and he has a formidable thing working very closely with him to ensure that these deliverables are met” he ended.
