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In it’s committed efforts to ensure that palliatives are provided to help Deltans cushion the effects of the hardship presently being experienced across the country, the Delta State Government has commenced the payment of N20,000 bursary each to over 30,000 students of the state origin in tertiary institutions across the country for the 2022/2023 academic session.

State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, who disclosed this to newsmen during a post-Executive Council press briefing, said it was part of decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting held at Asaba on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

Flanked by the Commissioners for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojame, Higher Education, Prof. Nyerovwo Tonukari and the Chief Press Secretary to the Delta state governor, Mr. Festus Ahon, Osuoza said the government, having considered the current hardship, approved certain palliatives, including the Students’ Special Assistance Scheme, also known as Bursary, to alleviate students’ challenges.

He said the council also approved a redesigned contract work at the Enerhen flyover to meet the required specification and to create a serene environment around the project.

Osuoza said the State government  equally approved the contract amounting to over N3 billion, to equip 20 state hospitals across the three Senatorial zones to ensure adequate provision of healthcare services in the state.

Speaking on the ongoing flyover projects in the Warri/Uvwie/Effurun axis, the Commissioner for Works, (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr Charles Aniagwu, said the sum of N2 billion was approved by the state government as compensation to property owners on the right of way around the Enerhen flyover.

Aniagwu noted that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori approved the settlement of affected individuals to promote peace and to make it easy, not only for genuinely dislocated people to quickly embrace alternative means of resettling but also for the contractors to deliver the work according to specification.

The Works Commissioner further said that the governor’s intervention in the bursary scheme and the hospital equipment was part of his programmes and policies designed to alleviate the suffering of the people at this time.

The Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerovwo Tonukari, said the process of students’ enrollment into the bursary scheme for the 2023/2024 academic session had started, pointing out that the over 30,000 students who were enlisted to benefit in the 2022/2023 academic session, will receive N20,000 each.  “Some have already received theirs, but not all,” Prof. Tonukari said.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojame, said that most of the equipment approved for the hospitals had been procured, supplied, and are being used to improve healthcare services at the hospitals.

He noted that the governor also approved the immediate replacement of personnel on account of the brain drain occasioned by health workers’ flights abroad.

On the issue of sporadic cases of insecurity in some communities, Dr. Osuoza assured that the state government and security agencies were fully on top of the situation and would address it appropriately.