Governor Okowa of Delta State

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the Delta State Government and a South African company, Sotheo Engineering, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a multi-million naira trailer park at Umunede, a transit community.

The park, when completed, is expected to reduce travellers’ nightmare at Umunede axis of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa said at the signing ceremony in Asaba.

Okowa said that the park, christened Umunede Rest Park, would accommodate trailers and trucks which park indiscriminately along the road at Umunede and ensure free flow of traffic on the road.

“The Umunede Rest Park is a multi-purpose rest park that has been on the drawing board for some time now. We met it and changed the concept.

“The park, when completed, will absorb all the trailers that are presently parked along the Agbor-Asaba road corridor.

“It will become an economic and logistic hub that will impact on the economy and the people of the surrounding communities.

“I want to thank the Obi of Umunede and his people for donating the 176 hectares of land for the project.

“And I want to assure stakeholders that construction work will commence soon as the park will create renewed activities, impact on the people and also enhance peace and security in the area.”

The governor also directed the state Economic Management Team to expedite action on the effective take-off of the Warri Trailer Park.

Okowa said that the trailer park would reduce the traffic congestion and safety problems caused by trailers parked on the roads in Warri.

Earlier, Mr Adams Ojaere, the Chief Operating Officer of the company thanked the state government for the partnership and expressed the readiness of his organisation to deliver on the project.

Ojaere said that his company would invest about 10 million dollars (about N450 billion) on the first phase of the project.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Ovie Agas, signed on behalf of the government while Mr Tinashe Mangwana, who led the management team, signed for he company.

(NAN)