FG has prioritised provision of education, health care facilities in N’Delta, says Akpabio

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has restated the Federal Government’s commitment towards making education and health care easily accessible to rural communities in the Niger Delta region.

Akpabio, who stated this yesterday while commissioning and handing over projects executed by the ministry in Isiala Mbano and Ikeduru local council areas of Imo State, added that the ministry would also empower the youth for a better future.

The projects included a state-of-the-art Health Centre constructed at Amuzari, Isiala Mbano local council and classroom blocks renovated at Nneise Technical School, Ugiri-ike in Ikeduru local council.

Represented by the Director, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Olufemi Oloruntola, the Minister disclosed that the construction of classroom blocks and health centres were being simultaneously developed in the nine states of the region, adding that the projects were at various stages of completion.

Akpabio noted that the projects, which were undertaken in pursuit of the ministry’s mandate, started in 2017 under the “Quick Win Intervention Projects” and were initiated with the aim of improving the quality of life of the people in the region.

“It is worthy of note that two other completed class room blocks and health centres furnished and equipped are also being commissioned in Delta and Bayelsa states and, more of this Quick Win Projects are still under construction, while others will commence once the 2022 Appropriation Bill is passed.

“The projects being commissioned today are some of the gains and achievements recorded by the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari under the Change Agenda of the Federal Government,” he said.

Akpabio explained that all aspects of the project were awarded to indigenous and local contractors, maintaining that the construction process benefitted the community through creation of employment opportunities for the youth.

He pledged the unflinching commitment of the Federal Government towards redressing the inequalities that had become pervasive in the Niger Delta region, urging the communities to be dedicated to the protection and maintenance of the facilities.