The Delta State Executive Council has cancelled the Warri Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) project while approving more than N5 billion for the construction of roads in the state.

Briefing the press yesterday on the outcome of the executive council meeting chaired by the State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, the Commissioner for Works, Chief John Augoye disclosed that the EXCO also approved the dismantling of the BRT lane in Warri.

Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, moderated the press briefing which also saw the Commissioners for Water Resources, Chief Fidelis Tilije; that of Transport, Mr Vincent Uduaghan, among others addressing the Press on the outcome of the meeting.

According to Chief Augoye, the dualisation of Sapele road from Amukpe roundabout would gulp the sum of N2.056 billion, while the dualisation of Nnebisi Road to Cable Point, Asaba will cost N1.076 billion.

Other roads projects are: Ozanogogo road phase II (N1.6999 billion); Ejiyeren/Akemu road (N169.2 million) and the main axial road, Okerenkoko (N121.3 million).

He added that Kefas Road, Oleh and access road to Tankers Park, Warri have been completed while there are other roads being constructed in different parts of the state and the contractors handling the section A of Ughelli/Asaba road and the Okpanam road projects have been directed to return to site as the rains have stopped.

Commissioner Augoye stated further that, the dismantling of the BRT lane in Warri was to ease congestion on the road and was in line with the yearnings of the people in Warri and Effurun vicinity, adding that the road was also approved for expansion.

Chief Tilije during the briefing, said the executive council approved the Delta State Water and Sanitation policy to streamline all activities in the water sector and regulate government investment in the provision of portable water in the state.

He also stated that the multi-billion naira Warri/Effurun water project has been approved for concessioning to ensure that “potable water runs in homes,” while the Commissioner for Transport, said the executive council approved the operationalisation of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority Law to ensure that road users comply with road traffic rules.

In line with the yearnings of the original owners of stores in Sapele market, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Ukah disclosed that the executive council approved that stores earlier allocated be revoked and money refunded to those who have paid while a more transparent and equitable distribution of the stores would be done with the original owners of stores getting priority treatment.

•Photo shows Governor Okowa.