In a bid to tackle the deteriorating state of public infrastructure, the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Gift Worlu, has embarked on an extensive facility tour across communities within the council, assessing critical government assets and service delivery points.
The on-the-spot inspection, carried out on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, covered key facilities such as the Ozuoba Police Station and Health Centre, where the council is currently renovating the Divisional Police Officer’s (DPO) quarters.
The Chairman and his team also visited the Rumuodumaya and Rumuigbo Health Centres, as well as the drainage and canal systems in Rumuigbo, notorious for contributing to severe flooding during the rainy season.
Other key locations inspected included the Obio/Akpor International Market, Rumuokoro Market, and the LGA’s motor parks. The chairman ordered that illegal structures identified in Ozuoba be removed with immediate effect.
At the Choba Market and Slaughter, Worlu expressed deep dissatisfaction with the poor sanitary conditions and failure of operators to remit due revenues to the council. He emphasised the urgent need for improved hygiene standards and effective waste management to protect public health.
The facility tour also took the chairman’s team to the Community Secondary School, Choba, and the Community Primary Schools UBE 1 & 2 in the same area. There, he decried the alarming infrastructural decay and poor learning environments, describing them as unacceptable and detrimental to the educational development of children.
Additional stops included the Obio/Akpor Fish Farm and the Council Farmland in Rumuekini, both owned and managed by the local government.
Speaking to the press after the inspection, the chairman admitted he was both encouraged and disheartened by the state of public facilities.
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“I’m happy we came out to see things for ourselves. But I’m also deeply saddened by the level of decay. The gap is huge, and there’s a lot of work ahead. Nevertheless, we will not be deterred. We’ll plan strategically and start tackling these issues even if it’s as simple as clearing bushes and cleaning up our surroundings.”
He stressed the importance of grassroots participation in maintaining public infrastructure, urging residents to take ownership of facilities within their communities.
“Communities must understand that these facilities are theirs. Schools, for example, should be clean, functional, and conducive to learning. If our children grow up in neglected environments, they’ll assume that’s the standard and that’s a future we must avoid.”
Worlu expressed optimism about the council’s ability to respond effectively to the challenges identified during the tour. He also pledged to forward detailed reports of the findings to the Rivers State Government and relevant agencies for further intervention.
“We are committed to restoring the dignity of public infrastructure in Obio/Akpor. This tour is only the beginning. We will continue to monitor these facilities, engage stakeholders, and take deliberate steps to deliver better living conditions to our people. Obio/Akpor must work again.”
The Chairman was accompanied by key members of the council, including Vice Chairman, Dr Joyce Nyeche; Leader of the Obio/Akpor Legislative Council, Rt. Hon. Rex-Milia Abuchi Amadi, and Heads of various departments. Also present were the council’s legal advisers, sanitation committee, and education and health officials.
