By Charity Ebi 

The Delta State Government has conducted a pre-handover inspection of the DSC Roundabout Flyover in Effurun, describing the exercise as a major step toward the completion of one of the state’s flagship urban infrastructure projects.

The inspection, held on Monday, was led by the Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, alongside a high-powered and multidisciplinary delegation that included the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr. Val Arenyeka; the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Project Monitoring, Mr. Tuoyo Abigor; the Functioning Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Engr. Solomon Aghagba; the Technical Assistant to the Governor, Engr. Bob Nakpodia; senior engineers from the Ministry of Works, as well as representatives of the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

Addressing journalists during the inspection, Izeze said the exercise was carried out to assess the quality and level of work already executed before the final handover of the project.

“This visit is to enable us carry out a pre-handover inspection of the DSC Roundabout Flyover and see the level of work that has been done so far. The flyover aspect of the project is about 98 per cent completed,” he said.

He explained that the inspection followed an invitation by the contractor in order to identify and correct any outstanding issues ahead of final takeover by the state government.

“We were invited by the contractor to make our observations now, so that any issues identified can be addressed ahead of the final inspection and formal handover,” Izeze stated.

According to him, the inspection team moved from the Agbarho end of the flyover through to the Effurun axis, closely examining the structure and associated works.

Expressing satisfaction with the outcome of the exercise, the commissioner added, “From what we have seen, we are satisfied with the level of work done so far. We expect that by the time we return, based on the contractor’s invitation, the project would have attained 100 per cent completion.”

Although the project does not fall directly under his ministry, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr. Val Arenyeka, highlighted the strategic importance of the flyover to the state’s agricultural value chain.

“Delta State is a major producer of food, and infrastructure like this flyover and the connecting roads are critical. Areas such as Ughelli, Abraka and other hinterland communities are key food-producing zones,” he said.

Arenyeka noted that the project would improve logistics for agricultural produce, stressing that “this bridge will significantly ease traffic and enhance the transportation of agricultural produce to the city, ultimately supporting food availability and affordability.”

He further disclosed that the state government was expanding food production through public-private partnerships, revealing that the state currently has “over 2,000 hectares of vegetable farms in Orerokpe, about 3,800 hectares dedicated to cassava cultivation in another axis with attached processing facilities, and more than 132 hectares of rice under dry-season farming in Aviara, Isoko South Local Government Area, a first in the state with plans to expand further.”

On his part, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Project Monitoring, Mr. Tuoyo Abigor, confirmed that only minor finishing works were left on the project.

“As you can see, the road is almost 100 per cent complete. What remains are minor additional works, such as street lighting, which is a separate project,” Abigor said.

He added that “the flyover is already open for public use, and the quality of work here is of the highest standard. The project is progressing strictly in line with the plan.”

The DSC Roundabout Flyover, when fully completed and handed over, is expected to significantly decongest traffic in Effurun and its environs, improve road safety and stimulate economic activities by ensuring smoother movement of people, goods and services across the metropolitan area.

Source: Pebnews Global

By Divine Perezide

The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has strongly defended Tantita Security Services Limited over criticisms surrounding its pipeline surveillance contract, insisting that the engagement is not a “common wealth” arrangement and should not be portrayed as such.

In a statement jointly signed by the National President of the forum, Comrade Ozobo Austin, and its Spokesman, Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala, IPF said the people of the Niger Delta ought to appreciate Tantita and its leadership for helping to restore order to crude oil production activities and for protecting critical national assets in the region.

The forum explained that, unlike the 13 per cent derivation fund which is constitutionally meant for oil-producing communities, the surveillance contract awarded to Tantita is strictly a professional engagement based on competence and proven performance, similar to other security contracts previously handled by individuals and companies in the region.

According to the statement, “The 13 percent derivation is meant for the entire Niger Delta region especially the oil producing communities and the funds are not reaching the people yet those who claim to be activist are not saying or doing anything about it, rather they channeled their energy into attacking a private company, Tantita Security”.

IPF further recalled that pipeline protection had in the past been undertaken by the military and several private operators, including Capt. Hosa and others across different states, without anyone referring to those arrangements as common wealth.

It stressed that, “Those describing Tantita as a common wealth are poor students of history,” while questioning why such claims were never directed at previous contractors.

The forum also alleged that many of the attacks against Tantita are motivated by personal interests, noting that some of the most vocal critics come from non-oil-producing areas, despite benefiting from the goodwill and generosity of Tantita’s leadership.

Highlighting past experiences during the Niger Delta crisis, IPF stated that, “It is amazing that during the crises in Niger Delta, other neighbouring tribes, especially Urhobos and Itsekiris isolated the Ijaws as trouble makers and exposed them with publications distancing themselves and tagged the Ijaws as only militants and that Nigerian army should kill only Ijaw youths and burn down Ijaw towns and villages which the military did”.

The forum further observed that, “Imagine, now that little benefits have come from the armed struggle, every tribe wants to benefit from the militancy with which they were isolating and branding Ijaws with all unprintable names. But Tompolo in his magnanimity included these same tribes who were attacking Ijaw during the arms struggle in his Tantita pipeline contract, yet they are still agitating selfishly to have 50%50% benefit in his own personal contract from the federal government”.

IPF maintained that the leadership of Tantita — including High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), High Chief Kestin Pondi, Engr. Mathew Tonlagha and Chief Tare Pondi — deserved commendation for what it described as their generous disposition and continuous support to communities, adding that the company’s interventions cut across both oil-producing and non-oil-producing areas.

The forum clarified that it does not receive any direct benefit from Tantita, but insisted that fairness and honesty must prevail.

“IPF is not a direct beneficiary of Tantita, but the truth must be told,” the statement said. “When people are doing well, they should be encouraged, not attacked out of greed or envy.”

The association warned that persistent public criticism of organisations and individuals contributing to the development of the Niger Delta could discourage goodwill and investment, and called on stakeholders to prioritise the collective interest of the region above personal ambition.

IPF finally urged Niger Deltans to recognise Tantita’s contributions to the protection of vital infrastructure, the improvement of crude oil output, peace building and security in the region, rather than promote what it described as negativity motivated by selfish considerations.

By: Divine Perezide

The Education for Empowerment (E4E) campaign of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), under the leadership of its Administrator, Chief Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has continued its support for students with the distribution of laptops to beneficiaries of the PAP Scholarship Scheme at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.

The laptop distribution exercise was carried out on January 30, 2026, at the institution’s Okerenkoko campus, as part of the E4E Mandate Campaign aimed at strengthening academic performance and boosting digital learning among students in the Niger Delta region.

Speaking during the visit, the PAP delegation led by Engr. Victor Ebikonde Sokoto explained that the initiative is in line with the agency’s core responsibility of empowering young people through education, adding that access to learning tools remains critical to improving productivity and academic excellence. The team also reaffirmed that the current administration under Dr. Otuaro remains firmly committed to positively impacting the lives of youths across the region.

The delegation further disclosed that more tertiary institutions would be visited in the coming days, as the E4E Mandate Campaign continues to promote education and skills development as key drivers of growth and prosperity. According to the team, the programme has continued to enjoy the support of stakeholders who have commended Dr. Otuaro’s dedication to youth empowerment.

Meanwhile, students of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, who benefited from the exercise, expressed appreciation to the PAP leadership, describing the intervention as timely and impactful. They praised Dr. Otuaro for prioritising education as a tool for development and empowerment, and assured that the laptops provided would be put to effective academic use.