Funding streetlights with diesel too expensive, Okowa responds to critics

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa Tuesday June 13 said he cannot continue with the funding system by which streetlights are made to work through power generating sets with diesel, saying it is too expensive to maintain in the face of the current economic crunch and dwindling resources.

Governor Okowa made who made the disclosure that the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Effurun during his working visit to Uvwie Local Government Area for town hall meeting and to inspect/commission some projects, said the State Government inherited huge debt on account of the previous system and has set in motion strategy to connect the streetlights to the 33KV industrial power grid, which is less capital intensive as well as more stable.

According to him, all the bulbs would now be changed to energy saving bulbs.

Accompanied by his Deputy, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Barr. Festus Ovie Agas and Senior Government Officials, Dr. Ifeayin Okowa said the State is experimenting with contracting major roads construction in the state to wealthy and capable individuals on a pay later basis to understudy how it works out, with a possibility of continuing same practice or to discontinue it.

He disclosed that the State Government has not mandated any of its officials to go and unduly interfere or influence decisions in any community traditional matter presided over by a traditional ruler and charged traditional rulers to report such issue to the appropriate authority for sanctions.

Governor Okowa who tasked community and parents to bring up their wards properly with regards to the menace of cultism in the State, further reminded the people of Uvwie that the state government cannot coerce the owners of Shoprite in the Area to allocate Shops to indigenes, saying Shoprite is a business concern with its own management practice, noting that wherever job vacancies exists, Shoprite must employ indigenes as of right.

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