By Mercy Adewunmi
In the capital city of Abuja, FCT, Senator Ned Munir Nwoko may be a newcomer to the Senate, but his experience in parliamentary legislation is far from novice. Previously serving as a member of the House of Representatives, Senator Nwoko has been fervently dedicated to enacting impactful projects that prioritize the welfare of his constituents in the Delta North Senatorial District and the nation as a whole. In an exclusive interview with National Assembly New Media correspondents, Senator Nwoko’s Chief of Staff, Dr. Michael Nwoko, highlights the remarkable accomplishments achieved by the Senator in his first year in office.
“Undoubtedly, Senator Ned Nwoko’s outing since resumption of office in the 10th Senate has been impressive. He has got some visible projects in Agbor and Kwale.
“Talking about projects, constituency, projects, interventions, etcetera. These are areas, very critical areas that the distinguished senator is really looking into, because the people really are desirous of people oriented projects that can be impactful to them.”
As per his Chief of Staff, Senator Ned made sincere pledges during his election campaign to guarantee equal distribution of projects throughout the senatorial district.
“Now, when he came on board as senator of the Republic of Nigeria, rSenator.Arguably, you’ll agree with me that today, he is the senator, in the 10th Senate with the highest number of bills and motions, not only exclusively for the people of Delta North but motions and bills that really are of urgent national importance for the benefit of the people of Nigeria at large.”
Senator Nwoko’s initiative to illuminate Delta North.
“Now, looking into projects specifically, precisely one year in office, he commissioned all-in-one solar street lights project in Kwale that’s in Ndokwa West local government area. Some of your crew members were there and witnessed the commissioning and I really want to thank you for taking time to be part of the commissioning exercise.
“I can tell you that the Senator has set a record, in the sense that he was the first senator in the 10th Senate to have commissioned constituency projects captured in the 2024 budget. Because that was actually his first project, he was the first to have commissioned visible projects. Yes, some have done empowerment etcetera. But before then, we have done a lot of empowerment programs for youths, for women, and for farmers, etcetera. But that was actually the first visible project that was commissioned exactly one year in office as a senator.
“Now, the all-in-one solar street lights project is not only going to be done in Kwale, it’s also going to permeate the three federal constituencies. In fact, the first phase of the project will capture three major cities across the three federal constituencies that make up Delta North Senatorial District. Now, Kwale is taken representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency. The next phase is now going to be done in Asaba, representing Oshimili Federal Constituency. Then, of course, another phase, the third phase will be taken in Ika in Agbor, representing the Ika Federal Constituency. In addition to that, there are solar street light projects billed for commissioning within the next few days in Aniocha North local government Area. In his own community, Idumuje Ugboko, neighbouring communities in Ujumojuno and of course, Chubu, within the next few days, a barrage of solar street lights project will be commissioned in the area. This in line with his operation light-up Delta North that he has declared. And even whilst all this is being done as part of his 2024, constituency projects, there are some other interventions that he is also processing through various MDAs, in order to capture more solar street light projects.”
He commented on Senator Nwoko’s water intervention projects, saying:
“Looking at other projects, such as water projects, as I speak to you, we have two water projects currently ongoing. One is the community – Idumuje Ugboko. We also have another one currently ongoing at Umunede in the Ika North Eest Local Government Area. They will be billed for commissioning within the next few weeks.
The one for Idumuje Ugboko is about 90% completed already. As I speak to you, water is running now; even in such a very difficult topography. I don’t know if you are familiar with the topography of Idumuje Ugboko and some other neighboring communities. These are communities that have suffered from acute water supply problems over the years because of the very high topography, situated over 1000 feets above sea level – that is quite high. But as I speak to you, this water project is about the first successful water project in Idumuje Ugboko. And within the next few days to be commissioned. And Umunede is also having similar challenge, but not as bad as Idumuje Ugboko and some other areas because of the very peculiar topography, etcetera.
The Chief of Staff for Senator Nwoko also pointed out that the road infrastructure developments he has undertaken will create new economic possibilities, changing the outlook for Delta State and the wider South-South region through the planned Eka coastal road project. More information provided below.
“Away from solar street light and water projects, we now go into roads infrastructure. Yes, a few road projects were captured in the 2024 budget. The other day, you witness the mobilization to site of contractors to the Ministry of works. They mobilized to site at the Benin- Asaba expressway, to carry out remedial and rehabilitation works on the failed sections. Before now, I’m sure that you are aware that the Asaba axis really, was a disaster. So they have, because of the terrible states of the Asaba Axis, they had to move to Asaba. The contract extends from the Onitsha Head Bridge down to Alifekede axis in Agbor, etcetera. But because of how bad the Asaba axis was, they needed to mobilize to site and start. So that is one of the projects that really he attracted for the people of Delta North Senatorial District – rehabilitation of failed sections from on Benin – Asaba expressway. And then, we also have some fresh road projects that are already ongoing in Aniocha North Local Government Area. We have a lot more to come as well. Most of these road projects will be commissioned in the next few weeks. He has also been able to attract some remedial works, rehabilitation works, especially with respect to the Agbor-Abraka, Umo to Abraka road, that road is impassable right now. It’s in a deployable state. I understand that, the contract has been awarded and the Distinguished Senator (Nwoko) is pushing with the ministry of works and all other relevant agencies to ensure that contractors mobilised to site as quickly as possible. Most of the projects are being delayed due to paucity of funds. And the Distinguished Senator is not resting on his oars. He has taken it upon himself as a duty to ensure that federal road that have failed in Delta North Senatorial District are giving the needed attention. Virtually all the roads you know, are of strategic economic importance. I’m sure you know that this roads transverses major communities and towns within Delta North Senatorial District, and they equally serve as Link roads, from Delta State to other parts of the country. And so it is totally unacceptable to allow such roads of strategic economic importance to be impassable. And so that is why he is working tirelessly.
“Apart from the 2024 budget, he has also done so much to capture more road projects in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC’s) budget that already have 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 North Senatorial District; and that is the Asaba – Oko – Ekpe down to Patani road. I’m sure you must have heard of that road. That road was proposed by the Distinguished Senator, Prince Munir Ned Nwoko. It is a coastal road. It’s going to be the first coastal road in the whole of south- south Nigeria. And you’ll agree with me that the whole idea is to open up a new economic hub in the area, link up communities and reduce travel time between those communities, etcetera.
“For instance, if you are going to commute by road from Asaba to Uchi in Ndokwa East Local Government Area. In fact, from Asaba to Uchi will take you nearly three hours by road, but by sea transport is less than 30 minutes. From Ndokwa East you are going to commute to
“Asaba, just in less than an hour by by sea, but it’s going to take you about three to four hours by road. So, it’s going to reduce travel time. It’s going to open up a new economic hub, because tourism industry will boom, boat crews, etcetera; and all that is also going to go a long way to address this perennial flooding situation that has ravaged most of those communities. We are in the flood era now, as I speak to you, the Distinguished Senator took an urgent motion today, to call for urgent action by relevant agencies of government towards ensuring that victims of flood are giving the needed attention in Delta North Senatorial District.
“A lot of communities now have been submerged by flood, etcetera. How long can we continue to carry this remedial measures? We need a permanent solution. And what is the permanent solution? The Distinguished Senator has conceived an idea that can bring about permanent solution to the perennial flooding situation in the area, and that is to one: he has proposed the dredging of the River Niger. Number two, he has proposed the building construction of an embankments along the River Niger plain, etcetera, so as to ensure that water does not cross over to the land and all that. So this is what the construction of the coastal road really is going to address. So there are a barrage of roads. I can tell you that there is no community that is left on touched in the proposed NDC budget, and we still have a lot more budget to come. That’s to say that, however, the before the end of the first tenure of the Distinguished Senator senator, I can tell you that a large number of roads would have been commissioned.
