By John Oghojafor
The member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Solomon Awhinawhi has given a compendium of his contributions to the process of lawmaking at the National Assembly even as he rolled out a catalogue of various empowerments to no less than 265 youths from his constituency, promising to do more before the year runs out.
The event which took place at the Ughelli general field, attracted hundreds of youths, women and PDP political leaders from across the three Local Government Council Areas of Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu that make up the federal constituency.
Among the items of empowerment which Hon. Awhinawhi doled out to hundreds of youths from the constituency include tricycles (keke napep), motorcycles, generators, hair-dressing equipment and several sewing machines.
Announcing that the items covers a total of 265 youths including women, Hon. Awhinawhi assured that the exercise was the first phase, adding that the second phase of the empowerment programme would take place before December, 2017. He therefore advised that whoever was not lucky to be in the first phase would have his or her turn in the second phase.
Giving account of his performance at the National Assembly, Hon. Awhinawhi disclosed that he had personally sponsored several bills and moved several motions including co-sponsoring others.
Said he: “On my own, I have initiated and sponsored several motions and bills that attracted local and national attention to issues of growth and development both in our constituency and the Nigerian nation.”
Hon. Awhinawhi disclosed that he had initiated and sponsored five motions including: a motion on the need to investigate the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on the award of contracts; a motion on the need for the Federal Government to construct pedestrian bridges on the East/West expressway in Agbarho and Ughelli towns; a motion for the federal ministry of environment to check the invasion and menace of water hyacinth in waterways and creeks in Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Local federal constituency.
He also disclosed that he moved a motion for the need to investigate the rusting away of 33 silos worth N280 billion by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. According to him, the motion was so germane to the extent that one week after he moved the motion, the Ministry ordered the construction work to resume at some of the abandoned silos projects including the one in neighbouring Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. Hon. Awhinawhi noted that the silos were capable of boosting local economy in his constituency through the purchase and storage of surplus harvests from local farmers and food commodity traders.
The lawmaker also informed that he had sponsored some bills to amend some existing laws including a bill for an Act to amend the National Shipping Policy Act and a bill for an Act to amend the Nigeria Institute of Taxation Act, adding that he was already in the process of sponsoring bills that will impact positively on the lives of the people especially in the areas of flood controls, power, marine, oil and gas, infrastructure among others.
Among projects which Hon. Awhinawhi has attracted to his federal constituency within the period include the ongoing construction of a Primary Health Care Centre at Erhuwharen in Ughelli South, the construction of Primary Health Care Centre at Ophori-Agbarho in Ughelli North which is completed, the installation of 300 kva transformer at Akpere-Olomu in Ughelli South which is completed, installation of a 300 kva transformer at Iwhrenene in Ughelli North which is also completed as well as the post-seasonal intervention training programme on agriculture for 60 youths and women in Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Local Government Areas which, according to the lawmaker, was hugely attended and commended by youths and women from the federal constituency.
Awhinawhi also disclosed that, in collaboration with the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), he was making effort to attract some developmental projects in the 2017 budget of the Commission, adding that in the 2016 budget of the NDDC several projects have been approved for the constituency including the construction of Orhuwhorun/Owhrode road in Udu Local Government Area; the construction of Esiso Street, Onome Okpallefe, Okun, Ekreravwen, Ugwrughelli road (3 km) road in Agbarho; the construction of internal road at Okwagbe from P.B. Djebah junction to Baba Ido Primary School in Okwagbe in Ughelli South and street lights at Market/Ovie palace road in Agbarho town.
Very importantly also, the lawmaker averred that he was presently working with the Ecological Funds Office in Abuja for the construction of a bridge to link the people of Arhavwarien Community in Ughelli South, adding that the survey and project plans were already undergoing processing.
He also disclosed that there are some projects in the 2017 budget that is already signed for Udu Local Government Area which include the Ekrota Primary Health Care Centre, construction of a block of three classrooms in Emoghene Primary Schoo, Ovwian and construction of a block of three classrooms in Owhrode Primary School, Owhrode.
Awhinawhi also assured that he will key into the SMART agenda vision of the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, whom he adjudged is already working round the clock, to ensure prosperity for all Deltans.
While promising to expand his cash transfer programme to capture more youths and women who are engaged in petty trading, Hon. Awhinawhi appealed to the people to exercise some patience as resources were very scarce. He however expressed optimism that with God on his side, he shall get to everybody.
Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of some of the empowerment items including tricycles, motorcycles, generators, etc to 265 beneficiaries.
Present at the occasion was the Delta State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Senator Dino Melaye, Hon. Oharisi, Chief Ighoyota Amori, Engr. Omeni Sobotie, Chief Barr. Fred Majemite, Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu, Dr. A.P. Fovie, among others.
