Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, representing Delta North senatorial district, convened a town hall meeting on Wednesday, April 3, at Orchid Hotel, Asaba, to express gratitude to the constituents for their overwhelming support.
The event was attended by prominent leaders from Delta North, including traditional rulers from the nine local governments in the district. In his address, Senator Ned Nwoko emphasized that the gathering was not a campaign event but an opportunity to transition into the phase of governance.
He reiterated his commitment to representing all residents and businesses within the district, irrespective of their origins.
“This is not a campaign; we’ve completed our campaigns and elections. Now, it’s time for governance—good governance. As a senator representing Delta North, it doesn’t matter if you’re an indigene; as long as you live and do business here, I represent you.
“In the past eight months, you have been following events in Abuja, and I am sure you can make your own judgment. As a senator, I have been prepared for this moment. After the inauguration, some people came to me and said, ‘We have these bills and motions we want to sell to you,’ and I said no. I have my own plans and understanding about the issues of Nigeria. I know exactly why I am here. I don’t need anybody to draft any bills or motions for me. It comes to me naturally, firstly because I am a lawyer and secondly because I understand the situation of Nigeria and the problems in Anioma land. I believe I have done reasonably well in that regard. I believe you’ve read and heard most of them. I put those bills and motions together because I believe that if they are implemented, there will be a difference. Governance is about the people—that the people at every level are comfortable, protected, and have jobs, etc. This is what good governance is about, and these are the things I am focusing on.”
Senator Nwoko addressed the inadequate electricity supply in Nigeria, stressing the need for the immediate implementation of agreements to ensure constant power supply to Delta North. He also highlighted the significance of water distribution from the dam in Ogwashi-Uku as well as the proposed construction of a coastal road to mitigate flooding in the region.
“Most of the projects that are important to you and me are currently in the budget; some are not, but we are still working for them to be included in the budget. We have the issue of electricity in Nigeria as a whole. For a population of over 200 million, what we currently have in the national grid is just over 4,000 megawatts. It is clearly not enough, coupled with issues of expensive diesel. So, when I assumed office, I was informed about the power plant in Okpai. What I understood was that when that power plant was built by AGIP, 100 megawatts would be stepped down from the plant to serve host communities and Delta North at large. One hundred megawatts are enough to give Delta North constant power. Constant power means a lot of businesses will thrive.
“So, this became an important issue for me, hence I moved a motion in the Senate, which was supported by everyone in the Senate, mandating the Federal Government to immediately step down the 100 megawatts as per the agreement. Armed with the motion and Senate resolutions, I have had meetings with the Minister of Power and the MD of TCN. They revealed that until I came to them, no Senator had ever addressed the issue. They also mentioned the issue of funding, which I assured must be captured in the next budget. When that is done, there will be light, and every one of us will feel the impact of constant power supply in Delta North.”
“Another important issue for me is water. When I was in the House of Reps, I brought a South Korean company to do a feasibility study for a dam, and that was done. As you know, the dam has been built—the dam in Ogwashi-Uku. The dam can and will provide water for 60 communities in Delta North. The only problem currently, according to the Ministry of Water Resources, is that the Federal Government has done its part by building the dam. It is now for the state government to ensure that water is distributed from the dam to homes and farms where it’s needed.
“The priority for me from that dam is to provide water for household use and water for irrigation purposes. Our people are mainly farmers; we don’t have to wait for only the rainy season to farm. We have to farm all year round like they do in the North.”
“The next important issue for me is about a major—the coastal road. This road is very important because of the enormous role it will play in stopping the issue of flooding in the axis. The Senate has agreed that the River Niger and River Benue have to be dredged. Practically every year, there’s massive flooding from River Niger that kills people and destroys things, especially from the Oko axis to Ndokwa East. Now, to stop this flood devastation, what must be done is to build this coastal road with elevation and embankment. The road design has been extended to Ebu, Illa, to Asaba, then to Oko, Okpai, and all the way to Aboh, and then to Patani. That road will link up with the current coastal road that the President has awarded the contract for—that’s the one from Lagos, Delta, and Akwa-Ibom.”
Regarding constituency projects, Senator Nwoko assured the constituents of the imminent commencement of implementation, with projects spanning across all nine local governments. He emphasized his commitment to ensuring that these projects serve the people’s interests and are not exploited for personal gain.
In the area of empowerment, Senator Nwoko pledged to support entrepreneurs, women, and youths, both through personal initiatives and federal government programs coordinated by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
The meeting boasted a robust attendance from prominent leaders across Delta North, including Elder Moses Idu, the Senatorial Chairman of the PDP, Engr. Dan Ossai, the State PDP Secretary., Chief Mrs. Nkem Okwuofu, Majority Leader of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi, Former Minister Chief Agbobu, Chief Edwin Uzor, Chief Ejiofor Onyiah, and Hon. Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije. Additionally, all Commissioners, House of Assembly members, and LGA party chairmen from Delta North Senatorial District graced the occasion, alongside esteemed Traditional Rulers from Anioma and immediate past Council Chairmen, among other esteemed attendees.
