Few weeks after the Delta State Government promised to tackle the flooding problem on the NPA Expressway by Ugbuwangue community in Warri South Local Government Area, construction work has commenced on a drainage channel.
The one point three-kilometre drainage is designed to connect floodwater from the NPA Expressway to the nearest waterway by Edjeba community.
Director-General Warri, Uvwie and Environs Development, Agency (WUEDA), Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay, who visited the site of the project on Wednesday expressed optimism that the project will be completed in the next one month and will put a permanent end to the problem of flooding in the axis.
The flood at the NPA Expressway a few weeks ago drew red flags as motorists made their way through the waters.
Worried about the development, the State Government waded into the problem with a promise to arrest the flooding on the road and in Ugbuwangue community.
Comrade Macaulay had said that government will not turn its eyes away from the problem as the rains came waves after waves.
He had also said, a quick win will be to construct drainage from the junction to the Edjeba River.
Contractors were immediately mobilised to site and have achieved some success in the last two weeks.
The contractor has achieved about one hundred metres in the construction and revealed that a fence and the electricity infrastructure on the path of the drainage as well as constant rain slowed down the pace.
Already, they have received permission to remove the fence and are optimistic that the pale of work will intensify shortly.
WUEDA DG was also at Azubike Street off Omimi Link road where he assured residents of the area that government will address the flooding problem which they have been exposed to over time.
He said, already there was a plan to expand the drain on Omimi Link road and to channel the water to the nearby Ekpan River.
According to him, by the next rainy season, the government would have substantially tackled the problem of flooding in major parts of the Warri Metropolis.
Comrade Macaulay assured those in areas where drainage work is ongoing that the project will be completed so that they can move around more comfortably no matter the intensity of the rains.