By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa says infrastructural development was key driver for economic development and progress in a country and a critical enabler for productivity and sustainable economic growth.
Okowa stated this at the 6th National Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) held in Asaba, today.
Okowa, who was represented by the State Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, noted that it was nice that the 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference was focusing on the theme: Sustainable Infrastructural Development: Panacea to insecurity and unemployment, that was quite timely and appropriate as it would serve to draw attention to the challenges of infrastructural development, especially as it affects unemployment and unemployment and insecurity.
He said infrastructure was a major factor that determines the people’s well-being and by extension, their level of prosperity or poverty. That on the other hand, Sustainable economic development through expansion of Infrastructural facilities was essential in the provision of employment and therefore a cure for insecurity.
According to the Delta State Governor “by training, engineers are placed in good stead to provide realistic solutions capable of taking us out of the challenges currently facing us as Nigerians. This is particularly pertinent as infrastructure plays a very important role in the socioeconomic and technological development of every nation.
“There is no doubt that there is a Nexus between youth empowerment and security as a means of sustaining national development in Nigeria.”.
He said there was the need to reengineer youthful potentials towards productive economic and social enterprises through vocational training and the attendant skill acquisition among others. As well as physical infrastructure that was needed to be able to reach the target.
Gov Okowa revealed that “As a State, we have taken the development of infrastructure and job creation very seriously. We are building strategic transport Infrastructures across the State to ease the movement of our people. In the last few years, our people encountered difficulties owing to the deplorable condition of roads.
“These challenges impede movement of people, goods and services as they slow down economic activities. We have improved the airport in Asaba. Today, I am glad to announce that the airport is doing well and assisting the ease of the movement of passengers goods and services.
“To integrate the State properly and ease road travels, the State Government embarked on one of the boldest efforts by a State Government in the country with the dualization of the Ughelli-Asaba with a spur at Oleh and Ogwashi-Uku. This road is very strategic as it links southern and norther parts of the country. We are also opening up several rural roads and expanding those in the urban centres.
“The major problem has to do funding to build bridges across many of the Rivers that run across the State, especially in the riverine areas. To ease Transportation in those areas, the State Government through the Delta Waterways Security outfit has brought a sense of security to our waterways, to enable our people use them without hindrance”.
Okowa, who said it was his pleasure to be associated with the important occasion, commended the national officers of the Union for the initiative in putting together, this conference and for choosing Delta State as host of this important meeting. That it was a mark of confidence in the modest efforts they were making to create critical Infrastructure and train the young ones on how they could be jobs provider instead of job seekers.
In his goodwill message, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator (Dr.) Chris Ngige, who was represented, noted that, the Federal Government driving infrastructural development across the country as promised was unpresidented.
Dr. Ngige who decried the destruction of infrastructures across the country by hoodlums and mischief makers, said infrastructural development was a key to boosting the economic life of the people.
He urge the Union to examine its activities and repisition it for greater height.
Also in his keynote address, the National President NUCECFWW, Comrade Amechi Festus Asugwuni, disclosed that experts have identified investment in Infrastructure development as foundation for sound and safe economy and engender growth and wealth as well as living standards of the citizens.
He said our industry has been enmeshed in a lot of regulatory and policy inconsistences, social, economic and Political challenges, all of which have impacted negatively on our operations and targets.
The NUCECFWW National President noted that the challenges facing the country were huge and diverse and that they can be traced to the poor living standards which were caused by Infrastructure decadence and deficit.
Asugwuni posited that neglect in the provision of adequate Infrastructure framework by successive governments jeopardizes the nation’s development and economic prospects.
Earlier in his address, the Delta State Chairman of NUCECFWW, Chief Henry Ojanikele, affirmed the position of Gov Okowa, that the theme of this year’s National Quadrennial Delegates Conference, Sustainable infrastructure Development refers to equipment and system that were designed to meet the population’s essential service needs which include roads, telecommunications power etc.
Adding, he said “therefore, this theme is Germane at this time of our nation’s life. Infrastructure development can never be overemphasized as a major panacea to insecurity and unemployment. It is evident that the nation has been witnessing economic depression for the longest period in the history of our nationhood”.
Ojanikele, who commended Gov Okowa on the positive impact of his developmental strides both in urban areas and the hinterland of the State, noted that consistent depression of the economy affects the psyche of her citizens thereby providing room for expression of suppressed traits of which insecurity was the height of consequences of such expression.