Development comes in different forms, according to needs. Some persons only judge by what they see in major towns and cities but, for a state as wide, expansive and complex as Delta, development goes far deeper.

For the riverine communities in Itsekiri and Ijaw lands, for instance, their needs are different from the needs of those upland.

It was therefore astonishing to see what Governor Okowa and the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission are doing to meet the critical needs of the people.

In the Itsekiri area, two major projects stand out: The Floating Market at Ogheye and the Twin New Towns of Oboghoro and Utonlila.

The Floating Market is a wonder. It is a deliberately designed trading centre for the cluster of settlements along the Benin River, complete with lock-up shops, stalls, a huge landing jetty and water and electricity projects.

The floating market now will enable traders from the cities to conveniently interact with the local riverine people at a one-shop place and that goes to boost commercial and economic life of the creek people.

But, you haven’t seen nothing yet until you get to the Twin New Towns being built by DESOPADEC at Oboghoro and Utonlila communities. It is an attempt to build city life on reclaimed river for the rural, swamp dwellers.

The towns are complete with phased housing projects, concrete roads, rural electrification and generation plants, water treatment plants, landing jetty, foreshore protection, primary and full boarding school, cottage hospitals, doctor and nurses’ quarters, event centres. And the towns are connected with a bridge.

It is such that the people can enjoy any critical facility that is available in the cities. This project provides economic and investment opportunities, checks rural to urban migration and the people are happy.

Interestingly, P-Square is billed to stage a show at Oboghoro, by the river, this Yuletide.

The only thing I have found curious is: Why does Okowa not publicise these landmark legacies and achievements?

Courtesy: Spadeng.com