₦airaland Forum

Is there any other airport built by Oshiomole apart from Benin airport?
Here is Asaba airport built by Uduaghan and he is also upgrading Osubi airport Warri to international airport
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=538349719561208&set=o.446611965374062&type=1

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=538350432894470&set=o.446611965374062&type=1
Asaba airport

SEE MORE OF UDUAGHANS DEVELOPMENTAL STRIDE IN DELTA HERE
https://www.nairaland.com/1051498/uduaghan-upgrade-public-schools-delta

Hurray! This is a testimony of hard work and selfless services to humanity.

What we want is an independent Urhobo state that will form alliance with any emerging nation but certainly not Ijaw republic

Good advise from the people's governor

2015 chess game! I don't know where we Urhobos will align with but I am very sure that we will not be part of Ijaw republic. We would rather follow the Benis where our fore fathers came from

Uduaghan would have done all of the above. He is a very kind governor who cannot hurt a fly. You can't meet with Uduaghan under any circumstance and your life remain the same. He would have turned the woman's life around for good

The people's governor has said it all. Kudos to the man wey Sabi

When the righteous are in power, the people rejoice. Uduaghan transformation agenda is working. God bless the architect of modern Delta State

You are here: Home » Interview » Tuesday Summit: Varsity degree not superior to HND – ASUP President

Tuesday Summit: Varsity degree not superior to HND – ASUP President



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Dr. Asomugha Chibuzor
[By Isah Idris]
Dr. Asomugha Chibuzor is the National President, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). In this interview with Isah Idris, in Abuja, he spoke on the disparities between university and polytechnic education, the dangers in scrapping of NECO, UTME, and the need to strenghten basic primary education in the country and other issues. Excerpts
There has been effort to bridge the gap and the dichotomy between the products of polytechnics, colleges of education and that of universities. What is the latest development on the issue? 
We have actually been invited by the Minister of Education because there has been this agitation over the years. Actually the core of the problem is the relationship between polytechnics and universities and the mindset of the Nigerian public, even our policy makers on the worth of the certificates both systems awards.
You know, there have been some kind of discriminations in the labour market, such that even the Stephen Orosanye himself when he was head of service tried to effect some changes. It is part of what the former President Olusegun Obasanjo tried to do, to give the same status to both polytechnics, colleges of education and universities.
Orosanye when he was the head of civil service didn’t want the discrimination to be. And we are saying that, there has to be a bridging of the dichotomy so that graduates of polytechnics will also have the same esteem, and by this, the society and the polytechnic system would survive. We have discovered that because of this discrimination even in the work places, the diploma is made to appear substandard, so that people don’t want the situation any longer, where degree is rated above HND.
Lecturers get qualified in this system (Polytechnics and Colleges of Education) and they go away to other system where perhaps they get more recognition.  So, that was the idea behind the Dual Mode institution. In the polytechnics, if they are qualified in their areas of strength, they can actually award degrees.
However, I have always insisted that it is a matter of nomenclature and the character and as a matter of fact, it was the certification in both systems. There is nothing that says that, what we call degrees would not be applicable to technical education. There is nothing that says that but we are looking at it differently, people are building empires and egos are rising about this matter. It’s a question of nomenclature, its semantics
In other countries, it is not done that way. PHD is a PHD anywhere. If somebody made a PHD and is teaching in a Polytechnic, does the PHD become inferior because he is in a polytechnic? Certainly, not so, that is just the position. So, we believe in what the Minister of Education is doing, if the other grey areas are worked out properly, we should be able to progress on this front.
 What level have you reached with the Minister and what are the next steps forward?
It is not the question of agreement. Her mindset actually is that in some forms, we should start the process of awarding degrees but what we are pursuing is that there are larger issues to be reconciled, like the structures, like we have talked of the regulatory body. Who would regulate these programmes, are we going to have dual regulation under NUC or under NBTE or under NCCE so, these are some of the issues that have to be worked out.
And then, there are policies. There are laws that have to be amended, because there are so many things to be touched. Then, we are also talking of nomenclature of the teaching staffs in the College of Education and the Polytechnics. Not just the nomenclatures, where you don’t have professors, you don’t have readers in polytechnics and colleges of education. All you have is principal lecturers, chief lecturers, which do not exist anywhere globally. So, what we are saying is that, set the same standard for everybody, but let us have access to degree education as we know it. Let the same standard be set for all sectors in the tertiary institution, as a matter of fact, this level should apply initially as a starting point.
And we are also saying that, technical education if we are really serious should be given a peculiar character in the Nigerian context. And even if it means given it at a level that we call it first degree, let it come at that level also.
How many polytechnics will be affected in the proposed award of degrees status for now?
What they did initially and which we protested against was to choose Yaba College of Technology and Kaduna Polytechnic and they wanted to convert them to universities and we said, this conversion to universities is not the solution. And this is where the Dual Mode idea comes up, as an option to conversion issue.
[HND holders are better managers in  industries, says Chibuzor]
 
Because, if you want to convert, there are so many polytechnics that are qualified in a particular area and that is why we said, you may have a polytechnic that is better than other institutions in just one programme. Even if that programme is in the university, that polytechnic in her area of strength should be able to admit students since JAMB has so many student applicants. Why wouldn’t that Polytechnic admit students in B.TECH in that area and if not, how do you think the lecturers wouldn’t run away again. If actually those polytechnic can admit students in B.TECH degree programme, the students will be proud to be there, the esteem of the polytechnic will rise in the eyes of Nigerian public and the employers. This would be all round.
As the National President of Association of Staff Union of Polytechnic, what is your take on the ongoing discussion to scrap the two external examination bodies, the NECO and UMTE?
I have always said we would not comment on that particularly issue, we want to comment on the whole of Orosanya report. The issues that the Federal Government would want to address in the Orosanya report touch the lives of people, it touches the lives of Nigerians including; parents, students and the lives of pensioners.
In this issue, there are cost implications; there are generational repercussions for jobs that may be lost. What we are saying is that, it is not bad that the government wants improvement but the consideration for improvement must not always be a cut in cost of governance.  And if they want to do this, let there be stakeholders’ conference and consent for any of such matter, so that, government will hear from the people, who are to be affected by the policies. Because people can just sit on their stools and take decisions, you don’t know and you don’t mind how it affects the people and these actions would always results in policy summersault.
You want to scrap NECO but NECO was set up for a purpose. Has that purpose been taken care of? JAMB was set up for a purpose. Has that purpose been taken care of? For instance, if JAMB stops operating UMTE, what the implication means is that, we will return to chronic difficulties in getting admissions. Many students would now have to buy forms and take it to so many universities again and some parents will obviously not be able to afford this expenditure.
So, I think government should be wise enough to call people, stakeholders together, listen to them, take inputs from the streets, from the real people before they can now begin to release white paper and take proper decision. That is our own position.
Has this Dual Mode in the award of degrees in tertiary institutions, considered the issue of resource verifications in those institutions being considered for implementation?
Of course we are not saying you would just come and give every polytechnics degree awarding status, we shall set the standard. So, whatever the standards are, take them to the polytechnics, whatever the standards you want to set should not be beyond what you have set for the universities. Take them to the polytechnics, put them on the table, let the polytechnics bring their programmes, their personnel, their facilities. Anyone that meets it in their own area of discipline is granted opportunity to run degree courses. How would that be different? That is what we are saying.
Recently I took on some teachers of Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in the FCT on continuous increase in failure among Senior Secondary Students in NECO, WAEC and JAMB and majority felt, they are not contented with the ongoing 9-3-4 curriculum. They insisted, there is no room for serious assessment of pupils and students unlike under the 6-3-3-4 curriculum. What is your view as a principal stakeholder in the education sector?
The major problem we have with Nigeria is not just with education sector but what we call policy tochy-toffy. We just summersault policies as we like. A person would just come, a consultant would bring in one suggestion, one proposal and immediately it is implemented without checking what has happened to the last one. Eventually, we will come back to the previous ones. You see, at a time they scrapped Unity Schools of JSS and said there is only SSS but now, they have come back again to JSS in Unity Schools. So, what I think people in government should actually do is, first of all, let there be sincerity at that level of governance and policy making. It is a question of whose interest are we working for? If it is personal interest we are working for, then we will continue to have these kinds of problems.
Let us work for the interest of Nigerians and the interest of Nigerian child, because, the repercussions are there with us every day. You see, building more universities is not the issue, building more polytechnics is not the issue.
The point is from the primary school level that is where the attention of the government must now return to. Who teaches in the primary schools? Where are they produced? What is the quality of environments where our teachers are produced? If you look at the syllabus, the course contents of programmes in the primary schools now, they are ahead of what they used to be. But the point is that, why are the students not better now than they use to be in those days? It’s a big problem.
These same pupils, these same students, you push them to the polytechnic, you push them to colleges of education and universities and you create problems. Now, you create more universities, you create more polytechnics, you push them in, because we want more access to education. What manner of education?
These are the reasons we are insisting on education that would give competence, skills, relevance and the ability to survive in a changing world. And we think that education has to be technically and technologically tainted. That is just our opinion.
Today we can see a situation where common entrance is no more taken seriously in public schools as a way of assessing pupils before proceeding to junior secondary schools. What does it portend?
These are issues you cannot just say, go ahead or don’t go ahead. When there are common entrances, was anybody failing it, if you come to think of it, you know sometimes there are political and sectional considerations, and they will say move and everybody will move but in the long run, it’s terrible.
We have to restructure what we are doing. Everybody must not go to university. It doesn’t happen like that in developed society, everybody must not go to university.           
How would you differentiate the policy of upgrading the polytechnic to university and the Dual Mode institutions?
It should not be an upgrading; we don’t like upgrading because it makes it sound as if we are inferior. Let’s have dual mode degree because we are doing what we supposed to be doing and we need to do more by allowing polytechnics to award degrees in their areas of strength, because of the increasing demand by Nigerians for quality education.
Polytechnic education is for a purpose and if we can stand for that purpose, it is good for Nigerian economy. There is increasing demand for technical and quality education, because we don’t want to have people acquiring education and are not employable, those who cannot defend their certificate and are not employable. On the issue of discrimination between certificate from polytechnics and that of universities like we have said, is psychological. So, it is just in the mind of Nigerians as some feel degree is superior. Initially, because of this perception, degree holders used to be managers and HND holders used to do the real work. This development actually transformed to one of inferior-superior relationship but this perception cannot continue, because this country is progressing so, people are no more using that.
Even in developing countries outside Nigeria, that dichotomy is not applicable. For instance, when you go to Malaysia, you don’t see degree holders running their industries. It is HND holders with technical background that run the industries.
Virtually, in technically advanced economy, they don’t employ degree holders but HND holders to do the work that has to do with running the affairs of industries and corporations. Until we come back to that world of reality, we cannot achieve the right progress and move forward if we continued to insist on theories. All the people cannot be theorists; other people have to be engaged in production, which technological education is
August 19,
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[b][/b]http://sancoinfoweb..com/2013/08/how-uduaghan-has-revolutionised.html
How Uduaghan Has Revolutionised Healthcare Delivery - Otumara
09 August, 2013
No man is truly rich unless he is healthy – ancient African Proverb.

This proverb, better still its essence, typifies the importance of good health – at least consistent good health – in the life of an individual or even a community. Since individuals constitute the community which quality and tempo of development is inextricably tied to the health of its constituent individuals, health is, by good reasoning, a crucial factor in the growth progress of any community. This is, ultimately, the quality of life the workforce (which is determined largely by the health of its human constituents) determines the quality of goods and services any, organization or society can offer at any one time.

The fact of the overall importance of quality health among its citizenry is not lost on the Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan administration, which has, in pursuit of this, entrenched several earth-shaking schemes/programmes to that effect. In all, the several programmes/schemes aim at ensuring that citizens have high quality life via easier access to quality health care at optimal cost-efficiency. These programmes/schemes, as indeed all other activities of the government in the health sector, are handled by the State Ministry of Health, which Commissioner, Dr Joseph S. Otumara, recently briefed the media on the activities of the government in the sector, in the ongoing Mid-term Ministerial Media briefs.

Responsibilities/Goals
The Ministry has responsibility for the formulation, development and implementation of health policies/programmes: administration of public health institutions; management of healthcare training institutions; registration of private/voluntary medical/healthcare agencies; enforcement of standards of practice; promotion of traditional medicine, primary health care, and disease control as well as supervision of the Specialist/University Teaching Hospital in the state.
The overall goal of the government is to enhance the quality of health (and hence of life) of Deltans by the effective significant reduction of mortality and morbidity via the provision of quality, cost-efficient health care services to the public.

Achievements
(a) Free Maternal Healthcare Programme
Launched at the Central Hospital, Ughelli, on November 2007, by Governor Uduaghan, this programme aims at whittling the incidence of maternal mortality in the state, and hence, enable the state attain the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of Wealth for All by 2015, the target date. Initially meant to address only ante-natal care (ANC); deliveries (including Caeserean Section) and essential laboratory tests, it has been expanded to include ectopic pregnancies, blood transfusion and complications related to abortions.

As a result of the huge medical and financial relief it offers patients, the patronage of this programme has been tremendous. For example, since its inception, it has recorded a total of 278, 484, ANC bookings; 919, 248 Routine ANC; 127, 849 deliveries; recorded 44/1,000 births perinatal deaths;; 407 maternal deaths and a maternal mortality ratio of 244/100,000 live births. The prevalence rate of the Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) is put at 2.9 per cent.

In terms of sheer statistics, from the period, (2007 to 2012) a total of 254,254 bookings was recorded; Routine ANC equaled 836, 544, while Post-Natal Care equaled 32,954 cases. Also during the period, a total of 116,504 and maternatal deaths 407 cases.
The Uduaghan administration, in pursuit of the programme, committed N1.8 billion on the programme.

Free Rural Health Scheme
Since 2007 when it was introduced, this scheme has become a crucial tool for the enhancement of the health of Deltans. For instance, a total of 97,678 persons had so registered under the scheme up to the 2012 fiscal year which officials/operators have so far visited 443 communities. General surgery cases equalled 1,444;; Obstetrics and Gynaecology cases were 360, while Opthalmic surgeries totalled 2,562. There were also 2,055 dental cases and 4,165 cases of immunization. Dr Otumara put the HIV prevalence at 2.9 per cent. He added that, in all, a total of N570 million has been expended on the programme which he classified as a huge success.
Free Under-Five Health Care
Without an iota of doubt, the child is mankind’s only guarantee for the future. This is because he is the only assured continuation of the human tree – the ‘seed’ that will become the next generation, so to speak. In this vein, it is imperative to give primus attention to ensuring the total well-being of the child.
In pursuit of this desire, the state government, introduced the free under-5 healthcame programme, under which children under five years of age access quality healthcare, free of charge. The philosophy of this is to ensure a successor generation that is essentially healthy, by enabling them access quality healthcare at public expense. The programme was launched on May 27, 2010 by Governor Uduaghan. Since its historic birth, this revolutionary healthcare programme, a total of 669,549 persons had been attended to, with a total death incidence of 1,347, which marks out at 0.20 per cent. Of the 669,549 beneficiaries, 43,654 were admitted to hospital/clinic, while 695,895 were treated as out-patients. The impressive thing is not only on account of the low death rate which has helped address the MDG-related issue of infant mortality/morbidity, but also on account of the increasingly progressive numerical attendance: from 82,486 in 2010 to 235,957 in 2011 and 351,106 in 2012 (the 2013 date is still in the works). The implication of this set of data is that, across all divides, the public has bought into the philosophy of this programme.
A breakdown of the factors underlying the incidence of deaths showed that malaria topped the chart with 27 per cent, followed by neonatal sepsis (12 per cent) as well as severe anaemia; Gastro enteritis and birth asphysia, at 7 per cent each. Others were Respiratory Tract Infections (6 per cent); Febrile convusion (4 per cent); Protein Energy Malnutrition and Meningitis (3 per cent each); Tetanus (2 per cent) and Prematurity and Surgical Complications (1 per cent each). Others made up the remaining 20 per cent, according to Dr Otumara, who also paid that the government had expended N1.2 billion on the programme. All three foregoing programmes/schemes – free rural care programme, free under-five healthcare programme and the free maternal healthcare programme – are geared towards the realization of the human capital element of the three-point agenda of the state government.

Infrastructure Development

It is said that even the best services run on adequate infrastructure. That is the core reason the Uduaghan administration has been laying critical infrastructure to propel its magnificent healthcare delivery mechanism. Elements of these infrastructure are:

DELSUTH, Oghara
This top-flight medical facility ranks amongst the best in Africa, not only in terms of facilities it houses but also on account of its high calibre manpower. Encouraged by the state government, the management of the hospital has been able to coordinate men and materials to offer Deltans (as indeed others), quality medical facilities, including in areas once considered outside of the competence range of our locally available personnel. Estimated at N17.66 billion (out of which the Uduaghan administration paid about N8 billion), it was commissioned on June 19, 1010 by President Jonathan. It is now recording breath-taking feats in medicine, including in delicate areas, including knee replacement surgery, and minimal invasive surgery and is set, sooner than later, to begin kidney transplantation and other landmark medical procedures.
Other Hospitals/Health Centres
In an effort to put its health facilities in optimum – qualitatively and quantitatively – the Uduaghan administration, since 2007, to 2011, awarded contracts for the construction/rehabilitation/renovation of 390 projects, at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels. A total of 248 have been completed, leaving 52 at various stages of completion. According to Dr Otumara, N4.6 billion has been paid for work in this respect, and hospitals completed in this regard include those at Uzere, Ubulu-Uku, Onicha-Olona, Aboghorodo and Ogiregbene. A state-of-the-art Mobile Field Hospital, has been procured and put to effective use, while Intensive Care Ambulances will soon be rolled out to strategic points on the highways for emergency services.
The administration, also during the period under review, built/rehabilitated 264 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) at a total cost of N789 million.
Yet other core infrastructure delivered in the sector include Eku Baptist Hospital (which is being repositioned for enhanced efficiency); Maternal/Child Care Hospital, Warri; Modern Office Complex, Central Hospital, Warri; upgrade of Central Hospitals in Agbor, Ughelli, Sapele and Warri. Provision of oxygen plant and rehabilitation of medical gases pipeline system at the Central Hospitals in Agbor, Ughelli and Warri, as well as ongoing maternal and child care hospital at General Hospital, Ekpan. Besides, the Central Hospital, Asaba, is being remodeled to befit a modern hospital in the state capital.

Kits/Equipment
To ensure that its health centres perform optimally, the government has not only provided them with quality manpower, but also state-of-the-art equipment in respect of which it has spent N5.5 billion.
Standard Enforcement
Part of the responsibilities of the Ministry are the monitoring inspection and registration of private health institutions in the state. The Ministry is also responsible for the renewal of the operational certificates of existing health centres. The overall goal in this regard, is to ensure that quackery and substandard practices are eroded. In pursuit of this goal, the Ministry, via its Task Force on the subject, has visited 129 facilities, out of which 43 were sealed up for quackery, while 36 others were ‘warned’ to be of good conduct.

Medical Assistance/Refund of Medical Expenses

As part of its efforts at ensuring consistent good health for the people of the state, the government has not only introduced and implemented its free healthcare policies, but has, quite wisely, augments them with a policy under which, visits via itsMinistry of Health, it offers material and other forms of assistance to those truly in need. A total of N1.4 billion has so far public servants for their medical expenses, in line with laid down regulation.

Drug Revolving Fund (DRF)
A core element of the Delta State Government’s Health Care delivery mechanism is its drug revolving fund. This is saddled with the responsibility for ensuring the continuous procurement of high quality drugs and other pharmaceuticals and ensuring that they are readily available at every dispensing point in the service delivery chain, at cost-efficient prices.

Dr Otumara said, at the media brief, that “the efficient management of the Drug Revolving Fund, over the years, has ensured that the hospitals have been able to meet patients’ drug requirements without any further infusion of new capital by the government.” According to him, the value of drugs/dressings and other pharmaceuticals supplied during the period equal N3.9 billion, while the corresponding revenue received during the period was N2.12 billion. The figures are inclusive of the supplies/receipts in respect of the three free health programmes of the administration.

But that is not all of the good news. Conscious of the fact that a fake/adulterated/substandard pharmaceutical product, on ingestion, is poison in effect, the government set up a quality assurance in the DRF. This is to ensure that drugs meet global standards of quality (so-called pharmaceutical standard). In the exercise of its mandate in this regard, the unit, in 2012, sieved nine drugs that failed the quality test from the system. The nine drugs were part of the 62 investigated for quality; the 53 others scaled the test hurdle.

Other Health Parastatals
The Hospital Management Board (HMB)
This board manages the 62 public hospitals in the state which are grouped into 11 medical zones for administrative ease. There are six Central Hospitals – Agbor, Ughelli, Sapele, Warri, Oleh and Kwale, with the first four, being well equipped and generally adequate, comparable to teaching hospitals. The Central Hospital, Warri, for instance, is accredited by the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Surgeons, for residency training in Obstetrics/Gynaecology and Anaesthesia, with a joint approval with DELSUTH, Oghara, on the training of paediatricians from the West African College of Physicians. Each of the 11 medical zones has a Management Committee which enforces discipline among staff.

State Primary Health Care Development Agency
The State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), is, as the name implies, in charge of the development of PHCs. The SPPHCDA has carried out successful immunization coverages in the state; deployed and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEN), to inaccessible health centres, or without resident staff, held the unimmunized children’s project.

Onchocerciasis: Enter SPHCDA
Between January and December, 2012, the SPHCDA trained a total of 3,964 persons in different categories – community drug distributors (2,479); community supervisors (1,043) and health workers. Also, a total of 639,203 persons were treated with 1,453,000 tablets of Mectizen. Besides, a total of 119,203 persons treated with 222,002 tablets of prazinquertal during the periods.

A far-fetched survey for the prevalence of endemicity of loaloa was carried out in 43 villages in council areas randomly selected in Bomadi; Ethiope East; Ethiope West, Isoko North, Okpe, Patani and Sapele.

Disease Surveillance/Outbreak/Investigation

During the period, the Ministry also held regular meetings with Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers (DSNOs) and the weekly review of The Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) forms 002 data and monthly review of IDSR 003 data and sending of same to the Federal Ministry of Health as well as the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and lassa Fever Drug, Ribavarin.

It equally conducted investigation into the reported outbreaks of Lassa Fever in Warri South Council Area, and suspected outbreak of measles in Oghara; Cholera in Ethiope East; Lassa Fever in Oshimili North Council Area; Neonatal Tetanus in Eku, Ethiope East; Gastro-enteritio in Isheagu in Aniocha South; measles in Ethiope East and in Oririokpe and Okwejeba in Okpe Council Areas.

Interventions
The Ministry also engaged in immunization; Vitamin ‘A’ supplementation; Iron Folate for pregnant women; distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) and the administration of Sulfadoxine-Pyremethanine (SP) in pregnancy; de-worming of children; family planning, birth registration as well as the key household practices, including exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding.

In all, hundreds of thousands of Deltans benefited from the interventions of the Ministry between 2009 and 2011, in such specific areas as Oral Polio vaccine (OPV); Diptheria (Dpt); Measles, Yellow Fever, Tetanus Toxoid, Vitamin “A’ supplementation; LLINs, ANC-Iron/Folate; Family Planning; SP (in pregnancy); De-worming, etc. The result is that our children, mothers and household members are now healthier and more productive.

The Future
It is without doubt that even though Commissioner Otumara was silent on that, the Ministry has some few challenges, just like any other human institution.

The good news, however, is that the strategic ministry and its management, starting from Dr Otumara himself, are fully conscious of their strategic place in the realization of the golden dream that underpins the three-point agenda of the state government and are determined to consistently contribute their fair quota by their consistent implementation of all policies and programmes set forth in that regard.

http://sancoinfoweb..com/2013/07/delta-mid-term-reports-uduaghans-admin.htmlDelta Mid-Term Reports:
Uduaghan’s Admin Soars In Wealth Creation, Infrastructure -Say Ashiedu

Delta Mid-Term Reports: Uduaghan’s Admin Soars In Wealth Creation, Infrastructure -Say Ashiedu, Solomon
POSTED BY BLANKNEWSONLINE ⋅ FRIDAY, JULY 26, 2013 ⋅ LEAVE A COMMENT
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The Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan-led administration in the oil rich Delta has been scored high, following his unsurpassed achievements in wealth creation, massive roads and infrastructure development across the state.
The score-card was unveiled at the ongoing mid-term reports by members of the Delta stateExecutive Council, where various commissioners are placed on the hot seat under the media watchdog.
In her report, the state Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Antonia Ashiedu revealed that the state government has been partnering with 27 micro finance banks as well as Bank of Industry (BoI) in driving the micro-credit scheme in realizing the ‘Delta Beyond Oil’ vision.

Blank NEWS Online Highlights: Dr. Antonia Ashiedu, Delta state Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation (left) on the hot seat during the ongoing Mid-Term reports by members of the state executive council @ the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba. She is flanked on the left by Barr. Chike Ogeah (Commissioner for Information) & Norbert Chiazor (Delta NUJ Chairman).
She said many reputable international organizations had indicated interest to partner with her ministry for industrial purposes in the state and attributed the successes recorded to deliberate efforts by the state government to detach the programme from any form of political coloration, saying, “DMCP is not a social welfare or a government hand-out”
“This programme has been structured to be non-political and unattractive to the rich because, programmes that are attractive to the rich will inevitably make the rich to crowd out the poor with their social connections.
“It is not a political settlement, it is not charity nor is it a safety net, the loan is 100 per cent interest free.”
She however reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring that poverty level in the state was reduced to the barest minimum and assured that the state government has put in place adequate machinery that would ensure the sustainability of the state Micro Credit Programme beyond the present administration.
She confirmed that the programme which has shot Delta state to international limelight is dear to the heart of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan whom she said, would want to leave the programme as an enduring legacy.
Meanwhile, Delta State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Funkekeme Solomon has also disclosed that the state government has executed over 1,006 kilometres (km) of  roads, since the inception of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration, bringing the total length of all-weather roads to 3,236km.
Funkekeme said that out of the 418 projects (1,372km) valued at N133 billion inherited from  Chief James Ibori ‘s administration, 60 percent  of it, valued at N43.2 billion, and a total of 170km drainage channels have been completed by the present government.
According to him, out of 367 road projects, valued at N240.8 billion awarded by the state government since May 2007; 92 of the said projects valued at N15.2 billion have been completed, saying  with the successful feat (3,236km),  ‘’this translates to 67 percent  of the ministry’s goal of attaining 5,000km all-weather roads by year 2020’’.
He further disclosed that the state government has embarked on Airport projects, to boost up transportation system in the state as well as enhance the state’s economic development, which necessitated the Asaba International Airport with its 3.4km runway and 60m wide asphaltic concrete, designed to handle well-bodied aircraft up to the range of Boeing 747 when fully operational and the international flights atOsubi Airport.
While asserting that Asaba is the fastest developing state capital in the country, he revealed that some contracts, especially that of Section ‘A’ of Asaba/Ughelli dualisation road and Jesus Saves Drains projects have been terminated and re-awarded to more committed contractors  to ensure effectiveness and early completion.
“For effective urban/rural integration that will  enhance socio-economic development in line with the state government’s ‘Delta Beyond Oil’  initiative, Trans-Warri/Ode-Itsekiri 24km road and bridges, 11.6km Sepele/Abigborodo/Arowon road, 7.2km Umeh (connecting remote communities through swampy terrain to Effurun/Warri-Port-Harcourt Federal highway),Udu/NEPA road, Koko/Uba-Egbelemeji road and Ekiugbo-Iyede/Olomoro road were being constructed”.
Others access roads designed to open up rural communities for effective evacuation of agricultural produce, according to him, are the Omadino Bridge to link Warri/Sapele expressway bye-pass and Illah coastal road among others.
To address traffic congestion in the urban areas, he said the state government has embarked on dualisation of Refinery road with spurs along NNPC Housing Estate road to Ekpan Roundabout, Effurun, PTI/Jakpa/Ekpan road, Ajaminmogha/Ekpan/Okere road and Bowen/Odion/Cemetery, Warri, Okumagba Avenue/ Deco, Ughelli Arterial road, Effurun-Osubi-Eku road and the newly approved Flyover projects in Asaba and Warri among others.

http://www.?u=http%3A%2F%2Furhobotoday.com%2F%3Fp%3D6402&h=oAQF2WPN3&s=1


By Richard. O. Richard
It is a known fact that before now, the administration of Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan of Delta state, South-South Nigeria was the most criticised across the country for inability to providing “Dividends of Democracy” to Deltans, but today the rest has become history as several projects, both completed and ongoing floods every nook and cranny of the state.
To many, it was like a big shocker during this year’s democracy day as the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan in company of the Commissioner in charge of special infrastructures director, Barrister (Mrs) Orezi Esievor and other commissioners reeled out projects upon projects billed for commissioning across the three senatorial districts of the state to climax the 2013 democracy day celebration.
Indeed, so many Deltans as well as non-Deltans based in the state could not hide their pleasant feelings and appreciation of the gesture of the dividend that democracy has brought to every nook and cranny of the state, courtesy, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, Governor of Delta State.
In a bid to ensure that government projects were protected and remained in good condition, Governor Uduaghan directed that anybody who destroys government project should be prosecuted.
The Governor, who commissioned different projects in Asaba and its environs as part of activities to mark 2013 Democracy Day, stressed that it was a crime to destroy projects executed by government.
He stated that anyone caught destroying or disrupting projects being executed by government would be prosecuted henceforth.
The Democracy Day activities commenced on Sunday with an inter-denominational church service at the Flock of Life Bible Church, Effurun and the finals of the first edition of the Governor’s football competition Cup for secondary schools in the state.
“If we see you damaging any of our projects, we will prosecute you,” the Governor stated, adding that those who wants to cut across a road for any reason should consult the Ministry of Works so that where roads are damaged, such would be repaired immediately.
It will be recalled that during the commissioning of a road at Okpanam, while welcoming the Governor and his team to the venue to commissioning on May 29, 2013 being Democracy Day, Ugoani Michael Mbanefo Ugbolu, the Ugoani of Okpanam expressed deep appreciation of the gesture of the dividend that democracy to his people by Governor Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan.
According to Ugbolu “On behalf of myself, the Ugoani-in-council and the entire good people of Okpanam kingdom, I most heartily welcome Your Excellency to this auspicious occasion of the commissioning of the Okpanam Township Ring Road, stretching from the Asaba-Benin Expressway to the Nigerian Post office along Okpanam-Okwutugbo –Asaba Road. This road, no doubt, is very important and dear to the whole people of Okpanam as it enhances commerce, human and vehicular movements, particularly now that many civil servants, businessmen and women, both indigenes and non-indigenes reside in Okpanam.
“I most sincerely thank your Excellency for the wise decision to open the drainage systems bordering the road on both sides. Apart from its flood control mechanism, it would obviously prolong the life span of the road.”
The appreciations and happiness been expressed by Deltans no doubt, represents a fitting acknowledgment of the massive effort by Governor Uduaghan to deliver democracy dividends by putting the people’s money where their heart is. This obvious grateful heart is further testimony of the sincere and dogged disposition of the Uduaghan administration to fulfil his campaign promises encapsulated in his three-point agenda of peace and security, human capital development and infrastructure development.
To mark this year’s Democracy Day, Delta State Government chose to mark it uniquely, by going round to commission projects and inspect on-going ones in Asaba, the state capital as well as Warri and its environs.
Enthused by the number of projects marked out for commissioning, one Master of Ceremony announced that the projects are aimed at adding value to the lives of the people. And while welcoming Governor Uduaghan and other observers to the commissioning of 1.7km dualized and expanded Government House Road, the Commissioner for Works, Hon Funkekeme Solomon said government placed a lot of emphasis on road infrastructure and is striving to give Deltans facilities that are at par with what obtains in other parts of the world.
“In pursuance of this, Government has about 851 projects valued at over N225billion all across the State. This road projects are aimed at improving mobility and access in Asaba, the State capital. Furthermore, they are designed to give the city a face lift, address issues of flooding and reclaim the rights of our teeming population of pedestrians on roads in the city. Today, a total of nine roads covering a length of about 11km are to be commissioned. These roads, which were either rehabilitated, constructed, reconstructed were completed at a cost of N3.75billion.”
According to the commissioner, the 11 projects commissioned that day were besides 20 other road projects at various stages of completion in Asaba and environs.
Commissioning the Government House Road, Governor Uduaghan said “Today is Democracy day. We have packed our programme full; commissioning of a lot of projects, we shall do most of the commissioning that had been slated for today by tomorrow.” explaining that what is happened in Asaba with the commissioning of road projects is in line with the spirit to make Asaba a befitting State capital, being the fastest growing State capital in Nigeria today.
“We have embarked on various projects, including the construction of roads. And what we are doing with the construction of roads is to ensure that the roads have good drainages and walkways. This is to ensure that people do not just walk on our roads without being safety conscious.”
Governor Uduaghan also announced that besides construction and rehabilitation of roads in Asaba, the Asaba International Airport is almost completed; it is already bringing in passengers and taking out passengers. There is the ultra modern new Government House into which he has moved in, and the water project being done inside Asaba.
The Governor made it clear that Delta State is not a one city state, as there as many other cities, communities and villages in the State, all of which are enjoying various dimensions of Government transformation attention. “So, we have tried to spread out our projects around the State , as there are many projects around the State, as there are many other things we are doing outside the State capital,” he pointed out.
Governor Uduaghan was also at the newly re-constructed Asagba Mixed Secondary School, Asaba to commission it where he advised the children to maintain the facilities in the school and keep the school premises clean.
He admonished them not to destroy the school properties adding that any student caught would be punished, and charged them to be loyal and respectful to their teachers and parents in order to be good citizens of the state.
The governor explained that his administration was investing much on infrastructural development especially in schools stating that education was paramount to his government.
Emphasizing further, he said “As a government, I have taken the issue of education very seriously, that is why we are developing infrastructures in the sector. We made school fees free and have increased the number of teachers”.
Addressing a press conference in his office recently, to show case several projects of her boss’s administration in the past five years, Commissioner in charge of the Directorate of special infrastructures, Barrister (Mrs) Orezi Esievor, disclosed that her boss, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has been able to make good his promises to the people of Delta state in terms of infrastructures.
Enumerating some of the achievements of the Uduaghan’s administration to include dedicated hospitals for mother and child spread across the state, modern primary and secondary schools with state of the arts facilities, bridges and roads, new government house, and the transport scheme among others, the commissioner noted that “Governor Uduaghan is opening and integrating rural communities through the construction of various roads across the state. As we talk, construction of the new four state polytechnics approved by the state government in Sapele, Abigborodo, Aboh and Bomadi has commenced.”
Why stressing that the mandate given her office which is under the office of the governor was to supervise special projects across the state, Mrs. Esievor stated that “Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan started 2007 in a very hostile environment coupled with distractions and court cases but today it is all history and he has done a lot by providing dividends of democracy to the people. New government house is 90% completed. The state governor embarked Delta state urban renewal projects with mega bus terminals, bus shelters and 30 bus mega bus terminals have been completed in the phase one of the project.”
Mrs. Esievor further disclosed that over 7000 jobs have been created through the opening and integration of rural communities through the construction of roads, adding that the sum of N7 billion was expended for the execution of the primary and secondary schools across the state.
The commissioner however stated that some of the challenges faced by his directorate was working with some of the communities which were so hostile to contractors as well as extorting money from contractors executing government projects in their community and therefore admonished communities to always protect government projects in their areas from vandals.
I must not end this feature write up without mentioning the latest sing-song of Governor Uduaghan “Finishing STRONG”

If them send you go arrest people there, you go gree go?

thoniann: Taaaaaaaaaaa! My friend shut your mouth! Who is behind who? You can only speak for yourself and not for us. That scum of a governor has not delivered a promise, let alone promises of democracy. His drainages are uncompleted and fallen, his roads are pathetic, even the one leading to the government house is in a sorry state. What the hell are you talking about? For 4 years now he's place embargo on state empluyment... What facts have you got to show he has been delivering?

Just mind yourself, no make me vex oooo.

You are living in the moon. Just two weeks ago, Uduaghan approved the employment of 1072 workers into the state civil service. He is the first governor to pay workers salary on the 9th of every month. Three days ago he employed 200 persons to work at the Asaba international airport. Last year he employed 2000 workers into the state civil service and over 1500 teachers. It is obvious that you are not in Nigeria that is why you don't know what is happening

@Deletrue,
You are the real enemy of Jonathan by advising him to fight all the governors. The best advise for Mr. President is to make peace with those governor and reconcile their differences and forge a common front. Fighting all the governors will amount to fighting in all fronts and you know what , the governors may creat a bigger problem for him before 2015. It is not too late for Mr. President to make peace with Rotimi Amaechi and other dissenting governors in PDP. I am saying this because I want Jonathan to win this election against the wish of the born to rule Jihardist

deletrue: you are very correct. If you place Udeaghan and Amaechi as 2015 worst enemies to jona, is Udeaghan. udeaghan pretend to high heaven but will definitely vote against jona. When i was working in delta then, i knew those people who were very sectional, highly uncooperative with others, feels far superior to others and were always sidelining other ethnic groups, coupled with Ibori's case, Udeaghan is worst than Ameachi. Therefore will and may have voted against Jong.

@Deletrue
You are a bastard. Uduaghan has always supported Jonathan and that was why he convened a south south and south east governors meeting in his office at government house Asaba to drum support for Jonathan. Ordinarily, the governor is not under any obligation to support Jonathan but because he felt that as a man from the creek who also share the same pain with the Ijaw people , he has to support the president in order for his people who are also from the creek to benefit from their God given oil. He has also directed all his supporters to support Mr. President because he is from the Niger Delta

@Chucks 01, Pls don't drag the name of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan into the NGF problem. Uduaghans major focus now is how to give the good people of Delta State the dividends of democracy. He is neither contesting for presidency in 2015 nor going back for second term. Be aware that we the people of Delta State are solidly behind our governor and we could care less about the presidency because the only government we know that is existing is the state government

http://www.?u=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FRf-x4Kggq4k&h=nAQG0PPY5&s=1

The state government yesterday ordered the demolition of all Fulani settlement from Asaba to Ughelli. We don't need their meat. They should return back to the north with their terrorist tendencies. If a southern person does what the Fulani did in the north , there will be protest and the result is that 500 innocent southerners will be killed

Delta has all it takes to stop Fulani from entering our state. We don't need them in our state . If you don't like what our government has done you are at liberty to return back to your state as a form of protest. We will be very happy to miss you. We cannot tolerate terrorist in our midst

https://www.nairaland.com/1243123/uduaghan-deserve-award-creating-best
You can chech here and see the wonders of Uduaghan in Delta

Uduaghan has done very well in all sectors of the state. God bless Uduaghan

Fight terror anywhere, Govs charge Jonathan
on MAY 13, 2013 · in HEADLINES
12:33 am
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By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor & Austin Ogwuda
ASABA—Robust support came for President Goodluck Jonathan from South-South and South-East governors, who yesterday, gave a strong endorsement of his leadership and charged him to confront terror wherever it may be found in the land.

The governors at a meeting in Asaba, Delta State, condemned the behaviour and antics of Nigerians and those they described as their “evil collaborators,” who according to them, have decided to assault the collective consciousness of the nation by encouraging terrorism in the country.



The meeting of the governors was across party lines. The only absentee was Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

Those present were Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross River; Peter Obi of Anambra; Chief Theodore Orji (Abia), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Hon. Seriake Dickson, Bayelsa and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta.

Also present were Chief Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), while Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was represented by his deputy, Engr. Tele Ikulu.

The governors said they “salute the resolute stance of Mr. President to confront terror wherever and whenever it occurs in Nigeria”.

Yesterday’s meeting hosted by Governor Uduaghan was also an opportunity to foster regional integration and is believed to dovetail into the quest for greater economic self-determination as has recently been championed by South-South governors through the BRACED commission.

Prior to yesterday’s meeting, political leaders from the South-East met in Enugu on Saturday where the governors of the region were believed to have articulated their positions ahead of yesterday’s meeting.

Yesterday’s resolutions were also believed to boost the quest of authorities in Delta State to use Asaba as a hub for regional integration between the two zones.

Further support also came the way of the president in a meeting of the South-South caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which was going on in Asaba at press time, yesterday.

Present at the meeting were political office holders at national and state levels, including senators and members of the House of Representatives, zonal and national officers of the party and governors from the South-South geopolitical zone.

The meeting Vanguard learnt, was expected to call on party members to rally round the president and the party in the light of increasing dissension within and outside the party. Before the meeting commenced last night, top officials from the zone called for unity and in the words of one attendee, “we are rallying round to ensure that we are one in word and action because if we are not, we would not be able to confront the attacks that would soon start coming.”

The meeting was also expected to give strong support for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and make a declaration on the ongoing constitution review in the National Assembly, especially as it concerns the position of local governments in the federation and within the state.

The communiqué

The communiqué issued on the meeting of South-South and South-East governors, jointly read by Governors Imoke and Obi, said:

*The South-South and South-East Governors commend His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for his focused leadership and bold, result-yielding Transformation Agenda, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria alike, as the laudable achievements of the administration in strengthening our democracy, stabilising the polity, growing the economy and improving the quality of life of all citizens continue to unfold.

*The South-South and South-East Governors agreed on economic and political integration of the old Eastern and Midwest regions now the South-South and South-East. The governors pledged to strengthen cooperation across the board with particular focus on development of infrastructure linking the region particularly federal roads.

*The Governors also called on the Federal Government to rehabilitate all rail lines linking the States in the region as well as embark on the construction of railway links between all the states. The Governors also pledged to work together to ensure the development of all the ports in the region, including the Abia Dry Port and called on the Nigeria Ports Authority to facilitate the achievement of this objective.

*The Governors commend Mr. President for the extensive ongoing rehabilitation/modernisation of the airports across the country particularly those in our regions. The Governors also called on  Mr. President to establish cargo airports, including Owerri and additional deep-sea ports in the regions including Ibaka, Escravos, Agge and also calls for the dredging of the Calabar Port.

*The Governors agreed to work to revive agro-allied industries particularly in palm and rubber plantations to exploit the comparative advantage in agriculture in both regions.

*The Governors of the South-South and the South-East states called on the Federal Government to facilitate the full implementation of the Free Trade Zones status amongst the states of the region.

Security and State of the Nation

*The South-South and South-East governors plead with all Nigerians to adopt dialogue and peaceful means to resolve issues affecting our country. The governors also agreed to work together and ensure regional cooperation in stemming the spate of kidnapping, arson, pipeline vandalisation as well as other nefarious activities in the regions to secure the regions and ensure that they remain conducive environment for investments.

*The meeting was concerned at the condemnable behaviour and antics of some Nigerians and their evil collaborators in assaulting the collective psyche of the nation, by waging various acts of terrorism; the South-South and South-East Governors not only commiserate with the President, the Governments of all affected areas, the victims, their families and majority of peace-loving Nigerians, but salute the resolute stance of Mr. President to confront terror wherever and whenever it occurs in Nigeria, while appealing to all law-abiding citizens to sincerely join hands with Governments to stamp out these and other evils from our society.”

Uduaghan is working , Deltans are happy . God bless Uduaghan

Transportation Infrastructures (roads, rail, airports and seaports) are the arteries for the free flow of people, goods and information; three things necessary in a manufacturing and export economy.

If the eyes are the light to human soul, then the airports and seaports are the eyes that international business travelers see a country with. How important these transportation infrastructures are to the manufacturing economy is as good as anybody can gues and that is what the three point agenda of the Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan led administration seek to address. Although the 68 items on the exclusive list of the Federal government has continued to militate against the independent development of our dear state. In spite of these barriers, the state government took the bull by the horn to build an international airport in Asaba which is supposed to be the responsibility of the Federal government.
The exclusive legislative list has 68 items for which the federal government can legislate on and by extension implement as against 30 items in the concurrent legislative list (for both state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly to legislate on). The historical origin for this enlarged exclusive list for the central government stems from the long years of military leadership and the need to ‘keep the country together’ following the civil war. From empirical evidence which can be found in the everyday lives of Nigerians and the inability of the government to meet its objectives in performing its functions under the exclusive list, the extant legal framework has not been very efficient. Without prescribing any ‘ideal model’, it is necessary to interrogate the effectiveness of the current framework and see to what extent we can unbundle the exclusive list to ensure efficiency.
It is important to underscore the point that what counts in the distribution of powers in a federation is the efficiency and effectiveness in having such function domiciled in a particular tier of government. If it relates to road for instance, the question would be which tier of government is better positioned to perform the duty? Another question is as to where the nexus of accountability as between the tier of government and the beneficiaries of such services is better located. It would seem therefore, that some of the services of the federal government at the local level which by extension demands over-bloated workforce are not really necessary. These functions can be better performed by state governments and local governments.
Assigning extra functions to the states and local government will require therefore a review of the federal allocation formula especially a downwards review of what comes to the federal government. This will achieve two things: limit the overbearing influence of the federal government and also reduce the high stakes that has become of federal political positions. This I will argue will also address the contentious and divisive question of whom and which section of the country is in the saddle of power at the federal centre.
The domestic need for transportation infrastructure brings with it the possibility to become an important link in the regional transportation system in the movement of goods manufactured in the rural areas (where most manufacturing facilities should be located anyway). The procurement of over 1200 water bus by the state government has effectively address the challenges of transportation in the riverine areas of Delta State. International business travelers must agree that Airport ,security and foreign investment go hand in hand. Travel is a basic necessity for business to be conducted between countries, while symbolizing a deeper connection that is fundamental to a country’s economic future. Aviation is the travel mode of the world; the first and last impression is your airport. Foreign investment is going to come from people who fly. It is vital, if Nigeria is going to become a manufacturing export economy that encourages businesspeople to come in. The bottom line is that if you can’t get there, you can’t trade. Improving airport security is so critical for international trade. To attract travelers and commercial shippers, air travel to Nigeria must be safe and secure.
It is important to note that the administration of President goodluck Jonathan would endeared itself to the public if concerted effort is made to devolve power from the center to ensure rapid development in the various states that Make up the federation.
The government of Delta State has shown to the world that the state is capable of feeding the Niger Delta with the growing of carrot, water melon, apple etc at the Songai Delta Amukpe.Remarkably, key areas like health, education, shelter, food and social infrastructure, road construction and electricity, have continued to receive government’s due attention.
For instance, as a way of ensuring food sustenance, the state government, in 2008, launched the Accelerated Food Programme via the Youth Empowerment through Agriculture (YEP) programme and that programme has in no small way contributed to youth empowerment and food production across the state.
What else can I say other than to pray for the man whom God has used to transform the state within a short period of time. To God be the glory, Uduaghan three point agenda is working. God bless the architect of modern Delta State.
By Comrade Sanco Ovie

When the righteous are in power the people rejoice . God bless Uduaghan