Academic activities were on Tuesday(16/02/2021) disrupted at the Delta State College of Health Technology in Ofuoma community, Ughelli North Local Government Area, as youths of the community barricaded the entrance into school to premises in protest against the contractor awarded the contract for the building of a 500 capacity auditorium in the college.
NewsNet learnt that the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa recently awarded and released funds to enable the contractor for the project to mobilise to site.
Apparently not consulted and accommodated in the project by the contractor in what is locally referred to as the payment of Development Levy ‘Deve’, the youths blocked the college gate to prevent the moving in of sand, rods and other building materials for the commencement of construction works.
Our correspondent reports that before the contractor came some of the youths that blocked the college were heard saying, “If he(contractor) no settle us, no work”.
It was gathered that following the protest, the college management had to ask the students to go home to avert a possible clash with the community youths leading to a breakdown of law and order.
Normalcy it was further gathered, was restored when the contractor eventually came and met with the community youth executive after which the issues were resolved.
In an exclusive phone chat with the Provost, Delta State College of Health Technology, Dr Augustina Erah, expressed delight that the contractor and the Ofuoma community youths were to reach a truce to pave the way for unhindered execution of the auditorium project.
She said, “We asked the students to go home because we don’t want a situation where there will be a clash between the students and the community youths as it will be difficult to manage at that time.
“So, we just asked them to go home and resume tomorrow Wednesday.”
On the award of the auditorium project, Dr Erah thanked Governor Okowa for his commitment to the development of the college to meet standards.
“It is a good thing for the school and the community as it will open the college.
“It will also avail us the opportunity to have more MBT programmes, retain accreditation for most of our programmes and have more,” Erah stated.
Recall that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa Friday, August 24, 2018, signed into law the bill criminalising the illegal and forceful collection of levies also known as ‘deve’ from public and private developers in the state.
