Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged the contractors handling drainage projects in the state to re-double efforts towards ensuring a speedy completion of the projects to minimise the effects of erosion and flooding in the state.

Governor Okowa stated this Thursday when he inspected a drainage project, waterways and discharge in Okpanam, a suburb of Asaba, the Delta State capital.

He decried the menace of erosion and flooding in Asaba and environs, explaining that “there was the need to mitigate the effects of flooding in the state capital territory by completion of the drainage project and linking it to the various discharge points and natural waterways.”

The governor also called for the clearing of already completed drainages as a palliative measure to prevent floods and erosions during the rainy season.

Dr Okowa charged the contractor handling the project to “move faster and connect the various drainage channels, so that whenever the rain falls the overflow and flooding will be reduced.”

Speaking to newsmen, he said: “I know the people are expectant of what the Government will do to make life more bearable after the rains so we are going to stay on course and put a lot of pressure on the contractors through supervisions and inspections.”

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works, Engr. Dona Umukoro who led the inspection team assured the Governor that measures to clear the drainage channels and connect them to the discharge points and waterways were on course.

•Photo shows Governor Okowa.