The N40 billion Delta State Resort Leisure Park under construction at Oleri in Udu Local Government Area of the state will not be abandoned by the state government, according to Emmanuel Uduaghan, governor of Delta State yesterday.
Speaking at the project site during a visit to ascertain the level of work, Mr Uduaghan advised the host community to create the enabling environment for the contractors so that it could be completed in time.
He said he undertook the inspection of the project as a result of complaints from the contractors and implored the people of the community to allow the project sail through for the benefit of all.
"I am sure that anybody that was here that day, coming here today now, would have noticed that we are serious. I am sure people thought that day that we were just joking, that it was politics. Now Deltans should know that we are serious. I want to assure all of you that the project kicked off about three months ago and you can see the amount of work already done and that is to tell you how serious we are with this project," he said. "Our first responsibility is to ensure the lives of all people that are working here, expatriates and Nigerians, that there are no threats. I am here today to allay the fears of other expatriates who are yet to come down here."
Provide security
He said the project is a partnership between the state government and a foreign firm. He said the firm is responsible for the funding of the project. "They are the ones bringing the N40 billion," Mr Uduaghan said. "It is not from the state government. What the state government is contributing is the road and the bridge, which is about N1.8 billion.
The road is not just to the site, but also to the communities around. So, it is also a way of opening up the communities. That is our contribution, apart from the land that we are also offering. Then, of course,
we are supposed to provide security." He concluded. Chairman of Udu Council, Henry Sakpra and President of Oleri Community, Patrick Okoro assured Mr Uduaghan that the community will provide a conducive atmosphere for the contractors handling the project.