Residents and indigenes of Obi-Ayagha Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State have begun enjoying free 24-hour broadband internet service following the inauguration of a community-wide connectivity project facilitated by the member representing Ughelli North, Ughelli South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. (Rev.) Francis Ejiroghene Waive.
The initiative, which provides uninterrupted internet access at no cost to users, is the latest in a series of development projects attracted to the community by the federal lawmaker as part of his commitment to improving education, healthcare, digital inclusion and living standards.
The broadband facility complements an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre earlier established by Waive to promote digital literacy and expand access to technology among young people in the area.
Community sources said the lawmaker had also single-handedly built the community's secondary school before it was subsequently taken over by the Delta State Government.
He has continued to shoulder the payment of salaries for privately engaged teachers from the inception of the school and currently provides accommodation for its principal.
His interventions in the education sector also extend to the community's primary school, where pupils have benefited from the distribution of free uniforms, exercise books, school bags and sandals.
In the power sector, Waive was credited with restoring electricity to Obi-Ayagha in 2019 after the community had remained without public power supply for more than eight years.
To further strengthen electricity distribution, he recently donated a bulk prepaid meter to the community, while solar-powered street lights installed through his intervention continue to illuminate major parts of the area.
Healthcare has also received significant attention, with the completion of a cottage hospital in the community last year. The facility is currently being processed to operate as an outreach centre of the Federal Medical Centre, Ovwian.
Beyond infrastructure, the lawmaker has sustained various empowerment programmes for residents, including the distribution of motorcycles and sewing machines, agricultural loans and COVID-19 relief grants.
Several indigenes have also secured employment opportunities in the Federal Medical Centre and other government agencies through his support.
To encourage youth development and recreation, Waive also facilitated sporting facilities, including tennis and snooker equipment, while his annual Christmas outreach, featuring donations of cows and bags of rice, has become a regular feature in the community.
Residents described the lawmaker's interventions as impactful, saying the free broadband internet service would significantly enhance access to education, business opportunities and communication in the community.
Many expressed appreciation for what they described as sustained and people-centred representation, noting that the numerous projects have transformed Obi-Ayagha into one of the fastest-developing rural communities in the constituency.
