Okowa aide lauds media for adequate coverage

CHIEF Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Mr Charles Aniagwu, has commended the media for adequate coverage of the state government’s activities in the state.

The aide gave the commendation on Wednesday during a media chat with members of the Warri Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Warri.

Mr Aniagwu, while fielding questions from the journalists on various issues to mark the state’s 26th year anniversary, recalled that President Mohammadu Buhari had similarly remarked that Okowa was media-friendly.

While answering questions on an allegation that Gov Okowa has abandoned projects started by his predecessor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Aniagwu denied it, saying the receding economic downturn was making it appear so.

According to him, Uduaghan being a staunch supporter of the Okowa ministration, started laudable projects being currently followed up by the Okowa government, adding that much synergy still exists between the two political leaders in the state.

He denied the allegation that the state government had sold off Delta Line, a transport outfit belonging to the state to a private outfit.

He disclosed that to halt the perennial mismanagement of the parastatal and the growing liability of about N300,000, the state government had to enter into a public private partnership with Good Is Good Motors (GIGM).

On why GIGM was the preferred bidder instead of the state’s chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Aniagwu explained that the transport company has a track record of operational competence and financial base to up the game of the agency.

He said apart from the fact that NLC only showed up five months after the bidding period had ended and finalized, it lacked the financial base and operational competence to run the agency profitably.

“Government went for the preferred (not highest) bidder and NLC did not meet the other requirements.

“The MoU is yet to be signed; 40 per cent equity is retained for the government while 60 per cent is divested to GIGM,” the CPS noted.

He also disclosed that the state government was working round the clock to finally lay to rest the Ugborodo crisis as well as that of Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh.