By Egufe Yafugborhi
ASABA — The Asagba of Asaba, HRM Prof. Epiphany Azinge, has warned that the Palace may be compelled to take over the management of the Koka Flyover if relevant government agencies fail to address the growing abuse of the facility.
The monarch gave the warning after inspecting the underside of the flyover, days after a Vanguard report exposed how the facility had been turned into a shelter for young men who sleep and idle there regularly.
During the visit, the Asagba found several persons occupying the space beneath the flyover, with the area littered with refuse and emitting offensive odours.
The inspection was part of his monitoring of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Asaba, where he expressed concern over poor sanitation practices and institutional failures contributing to environmental challenges in the city.
Speaking at the flyover, Prof. Azinge said the presence of unidentified persons using the facility as accommodation posed security concerns.
“Recent times, we have seen that a lot of miscreants find this place as their abode. They sleep and wake up here, only God knows what they do. Things that border on crime and criminality which ought not to happen,” he said.
The monarch said the Palace had waited for relevant agencies to intervene but was disappointed by the lack of action.
“We have waited for some agencies to intervene. Again, we still have been waiting in vain. I’ve decided to take it upon myself to also visit this place to see how we can help. If the only thing we achieve is to draw the attention of the agencies involved, then we have done our duty,” he added.
He warned that leaving the facility unchecked could pose a wider security threat to Asaba.
“In the event of anything untoward, it will start from here because of the aggregation of youths we cannot account for. Automatically, it will envelope the whole of Asaba,” he said.
The Asagba stressed that the flyover must be properly regulated and brought under the control of relevant authorities, adding that the Palace was prepared to take action if the situation persisted.
“Ani Asagbas have assured that something would be done to ensure we take charge of this place fully,” he said.
The monarch’s position follows earlier concerns raised by stakeholders, including the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), which in June described the influx of undocumented persons and people of unknown identities around the area as a security risk.
Similarly, the Forum of Delta State NGOs had called on the state Environmental Task Force to evacuate persons occupying the facility, describing them as a nuisance and potential security threat.
The Asagba also expressed disappointment over poor participation in the environmental sanitation exercise and the condition of roads and drainage systems in the city.
He said the Palace had taken steps to address some of the sanitation challenges by engaging workers to clear blocked gutters.
“We’ve been able to mobilise our people, been able to lead by example. Anything we can do to make sure Asaba continues to flourish, continues to remain peaceful and habitable for all indigenes and non-indigenes, we will definitely do so,” he said.
The monarch said the Palace’s intervention was necessary because institutions saddled with such responsibilities had failed to act.
“Very unfortunate that ideally this shouldn’t be the responsibility of the Palace, but where appointed or constitutionally recognised institutions fail to live up to their responsibilities and obligations, the community should not suffer for it.
“Consequently, we have resolved to take our destiny in our hands,” he said.
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