WARRI — GOVERNOR James Ibori of Delta State, yesterday, renewed his appeal to the Federal Government to consider as a priority the dualisation of the East- West road, which links the state to other oil producing Bayelsa and Rivers states.
He also called for the completion of the Warri-Sapele- Benin road and the Ajaokuta/Itakpe/Aladja railway line project, saying that "these projects are central to the development of a conducive environment and provision of an encouraging infrastructural support base necessary for the development of the nation."
Governor Ibori made this call in a goodwill message he sent through his deputy, Chief Benjamin Elue to the Nigerian Society of Engineers at the opening of its 37th National Engineering Conference and general meeting in Warri.
He said that his administration realized the importance of engineers in the growth of the country, hence the support and encouragement of the initiative to host the conference in the state, adding that it was against the backdrop that his government has been doing everything possible to provide befitting infrastructure in the oil cities of Warri and Effurun.
"A new network of roads is being developed and other infrastructural support are provided for those desirous of taking advantage of some of these primary industries to promote the socio-economic growth, especially the establishment of local industries in the state", he said.
The governor commended the NSE for conceptualizing the theme of the conference: "Local Content Development in the Nigerian Economy", pointing out that "engineers worldwide are always at the forefront of technological development.
"Today, one of the fundamental development crises in Nigeria is that in spite of our huge natural resources, the nation cannot boast of a corresponding level of technological development and a self-reliant economy. As long as we depend on other nations for required goods and services, so long shall our sustainable development and poverty eradication programme defy solutions. Nations of the world that have excelled did so primarily through the sacrifice and patriotism of their indigenous technologists", he asserted.
Governor Ibori appealed to the association to reappraise the contributions of its members, both in government, private sector and the academia, and challenged them to give the country a clearer industrial development vision.
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