Press Release
Uduaghan commended for efforts to improve transportation system
            The Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan has been lauded for his administration’s recognition of the importance of transportation towards the upliftment of the quality of lives of the people and the overall development of communities especially in the movement of goods and people.
            The State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Benson Rolland Igbakpa gave the commendation during the mid-term report of the activities of the Directorate of Transport.
            Hon. Igbakpa said that in pursuance of the State Government’s policy for the provision of cheap and affordable transportation for Deltans, government in 2008 launched the State Urban Taxi scheme with 170 Taxis and 100 Toyota hiace buses.
            The Transport Commissioner disclosed that between 2009 and 2013, the State Government purchased an additional 605 units of 18 seater Toyota Hiace buses for the State Urban transportation programme, adding that 40 units of the buses were allocated to the school shuttle Bus Scheme to ease the transportation problems currently experienced by primary and secondary school children.
            Hon. Igbakpa said the remaining 665 units were distributed to Delta Line Transport Services, Agofure Motors Limited, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), labour and other beneficiaries.
            He disclosed that government through the Directorate had constructed some Lay-bys on urban roads, so as to accommodate Ultra-Modern Bus Shelter in order to ensure free flow of traffic in the cities.
            Hon. Igbakpa maintained that in view of the State Government’s intention of replacing commercial motorcycles commonly known as “Okada” between 2011 and 2013 it awarded contract for the procurement of a total of 3,073 units of tricycles, saying that a total of 2,550 units of tricycles had been delivered.
            The Commissioner said the Directorate between 2008 and 2012 embarked on the construction of no fewer than 31 Concrete Landing Jetties and two waiting sheds in Oboghoro, Korobo, Bomadi, Orugbo, Igbudu, Otu-Illah and Ofuogbene communities among other areas across the state.
            Hon. Igbakpa said the Directorate had equipped the Central Mechanical Workshop in Warri with modern machines and facilities, adding that contract for the procurement of more machines had been awarded.
            The Commissioner disclosed that the transport sector had generated the sum of N150, 485,146.00 between January 2007 and June 2013.
            Speaking on maintaining a hygienic traffic flow in the state, the Commissioner disclosed that a bill has been forwarded to the State House of Assembly for the establishment of Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA), saying that when it comes on board it would take charge of traffic management and also provide employment for the citizens of the state.
            He said the state government had approved the establishment of a Free Trade Zone at Koko, even as he disclosed that Ten-Man implementation Committee on the Koko Free Trade Zone was inaugurated to work out modalities for the smooth and speedy execution of the project.
 
Ministry of Information
Asaba