The Delta State Government on Thursday announced that it would on February 2, 2021, inaugurate completed road and school projects in Warri and Effurun, with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa inaugurating two roads and schools in Warri and Uvwie local government areas of the state.

The Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday shortly after inspecting the projects in company with his Basic and Secondary Education counterpart, Mr Patrick Ukah.

The roads for inauguration, according to Augoye, are the double-carriage Ubeji road, Access road from NPA Expressway to Warri Refinery while the schools are Army Day Secondary School, Effurun and Ighogbadu Secondary School, Warri.

He said that Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa would inaugurate the projects at the invitation of Okowa, adding the 4.5-kilometre Ubeji road was constructed by Ark Marine Engineering Limited.

“It is fully completed though with minor maintenance which the contractor will carry out from Monday next week because we intend to inaugurate that road on Feb. 2.

“His Excellency is inviting the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to inaugurate the Ubeji road and the access road from NPA to Warri Refinery, which is also completed and awaiting road markings which will commence tomorrow and will be completed within three days.

“It’s a very good job they did for us and we are very happy about it.

“Governor Okowa believes that Deltans should benefit from his administration in spite of the challenges that go with the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Augoye said that the projects were economically viable, adding that the first one was a link to Warri Refinery and Petrochemicals Company while the Ubeji road connected five oil tank farms.

On his part, Ukah said that Army Day Secondary School was one of the 12 model secondary schools embarked upon by the previous administration in the state.

He said Governor Okowa believed that government was a continuum and decided to complete the project which was at 30 per cent stage when he assumed office.

“We are happy to say that it is one of the model schools we have in the state today and you can see the population that we have there.

“The Ighogbadu Secondary School is an executive response from the governor. It was one of the products of the town hall meetings we had with the people of this area and the governor assured that he was going to construct a secondary school here.

“Today I am happy to report that the school is completed now and over 200 students have resumed classes here.

“I am also happy that some of the roads have been constructed and we will do all within our powers to see that the school entrance is put to good use.

“We are happy that the schools are well constructed and it’s a good environment for teaching and learning,” Ukah said.

On compliance with COVID-19 preventive protocols, he said that he was impressed with the schools he had visited.

“What I have seen in the few schools I have gone to, I am quite impressed because I saw most of the pupils and the teachers with their face masks.

“It is not easy to monitor children because some of them will pull it off, because it is very inconveniencing; so it behoves the teachers to always remind them to wear it properly.

“We need to give them constant reminders to ensure that they become used to it.

“So far, I am impressed, but in some places you still see some laxities and that is why we have told teachers that before they start any lesson, they must go through the COVID-19 protocol.

“The idea is for the teachers and students to become apostles in carrying out the COVID-19 message from the homes to the community that COVID-19 is real.

“Our prayer is that God should keep protecting us so that no teacher or student will contact this ailment,” Ukah stated.

• PHOTO: Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye (right); Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Patrick Ukah (left) and Engr. Olanrewaju Adeleke making some explanation during the Inspection of Access Road connecting NPA Expressway to WarriRefinery, Delta State, on Thursday, 21/1/21. PHOTO: JIBUNOR SAMUEL