DELTA State Commissioner for Housing, Chief Festus Ochonogor, has urged media houses to be acquainted with government policies and programmes to enable them properly inform the public.
Chief Ochonogor made the call on Wednesday in Asaba when management of WAZOBIA FM, Onitsha, paid him a courtesy visit.
He disclosed that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration has done a lot, especially in the housing sector that deserve to be highlighted to the general public.
“As a government, we are aware of the importance of the media in the dissemination of information.
“The media houses need to understand government policies and programmes, because when you understand the policies and programmes of government, you will be in a better position to educate, inform and entertain the public.
“For us in the Ministry of Housing, we are all aware that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration has done a lot in the housing sector.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) school for the training of the Inspectorate cadre will soon be commissioned, the Central Secretariat complex, the office of the SSG and Chief of Staff are ongoing projects that the media will appreciate better by visiting the project sites.
“As a developing state, there are certain infrastructure you have to provide to strengthen governance and I can tell you that Governor Okowa’s stronger Delta programme is hinged on legacy projects of which housing is very much inclusive.
“A befitting complex to serve as Secretariat for the Traditional Rulers Council is almost ompleted and there we have also, the Ecumenical Centre, a 6-storey High Court building, all of them at different stages of completion.
“Of course, construction works are going on simultaneously in nine technical schools across the state.
“In all of these, Ministry of Housing is involved because it is a highly professional Ministry that is also engaged in consultancy service, supervision of projects, among several other activities,” Ochonogor said.
He also disclosed that the state government has encouraged private developers to provide affordable houses for Deltans
Earlier, the Head of Programmes, WAZOBIA FM, Christopher Mordi, said the visit was to intimate the commissioner about the programmes of the radio station with a view to highlighting the activities of his Ministry.