Asagba Prof Azinge Expresses Concern Over Planlessness of Asaba

Asagba Prof Azinge Expresses Concern Over Planlessness of Asaba

The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, FNIALS; has expressed concern about the inability of the relevant authorities of the Delta State Government to produce a master plan of the State Capital Territory.

The Monarch, in his remarks while receiving members of the Asaba Vision 2050 Committee who visited him, said property development without recourse to the master plan had taken the beauty off the state capital.

He noted that structures not meant to be in residential areas were common place in Asaba, citing the preponderance of worship centres in virtually every street, which, beyond their spiritual importance, constituted public nuisance through noise pollution.

Asagba Prof Azinge pointed out that the State Capital Territory Development Agency, which had been reached out to on the matter, appeared to be helpless, expressing delight, however, that the State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Obborevwori, had promised to produce the master plan, and had indeed awarded a contract for it.

The highly esteemed traditional ruler wondered how the master plan could be implemented under the present heavily built up and disorganised environment without demolishing the structures currently standing in wrong places and paying compensations, insisting that the document ought to have been in use long before now.

He described the Committee’s assignment as daunting, challenging and intellectually demanding, as making projections for the future was not an easy task and required a great deal of dexterity, research and skill, which he was confident that the Committee members were equal to.

The Asagba said the engagement was a community service targeted at producing a blueprint on what  Asaba should look like by the year 2050, stressing that it did not matter whether he would still be around then.

His Royal Majesty commended the Committee for the progress so far made and charged it to be strategic and diplomatic in dealing with certain issues, especially those requiring the attention of government, while emphasizing that focus should be on producing a policy document that would project what Asaba should be like in 25 years time, in terms of residential, cultural development, blending tradition and modernity, market development, modern transportation system, school and hospital infrastructure, amongst others.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Ogbueshi Nabo Prof. Leroy Edozien, Ubilikankwu Ahaba; said they were already articulating a 25-year plan for the physical, socioeconomic and cultural development of Asaba, adding that they were looking forward to having the works of other Committees integrated into the plan.

Prof Edozien said in the course of its assignment, the Committee saw the need to develop and execute a master plan, but discovered that the state government had awarded a contract for it, even as he expressed the hope that Asaba people were involved in the preparation of the document.

He urged Nna Agu to assist the  Committee with information on the mega projects being proposed for Asaba, including the International Market, Water Front Project, among others, to enable it have a good understanding of the projects and how they impact on the community.

The Committee Chairman assured the Asagba of the readiness of members to deliver on the set mandate.