BY SUNDAY EGEDE
Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, yesterday, said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is determined to develop all parts of the state in line with his administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda.
Aniagwu disclosed this at Issele-Azagba, Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, during the flag-off of the 2.7km Issele-Azagba-Otulu road construction by the contractor.
He said the Governor is desirous of connecting every local government across the state with quality roads and urged the contractor to deliver as scheduled.
“You will recall that few weeks ago, Exco approved a number of roads across the three Senatorial districts. After the approval we proceeded to the process of awards and we got a number of contractors who bidded after the projects were advertised.
“This particular project which links Issele-Azagba-Otulu and to Ubulu-Okiti was among the projects that was approved in the course of that Exco meeting.
“It’s been awarded and we are here to examine the level of mobilisation and to formally hand over these projects to the different contractors.
“This particular project is comprising 2.7km and over 3km side drain has been awarded to a contractor we considered capable and it will link up Aniocha North to Aniocha South in Delta North Senatorial district.
“The award of this project is further demonstration of the Governor’s “Meaningful Development” and “Opportunities for All’ planks in his MORE Agenda which is an indication that Governor Oborevwori is indeed a Governor for all Deltans.
“Once this road is completed, the people of Issele-Azagba may not go through the expressway again to get to their local government headquarters, Issele-Uku.
“I have extracted commitment from the contractor and from their work schedule, I am convinced that in no distant time, this project would be delivered. I’m happy with the speed with which they have mobilised.”
The Commissioner said the Oborevwori administration is mobilising contractors to ensure they work with the necessary speed to avoid price fluctuations in the economy.
He said the contractor was mobilised 30 per cent of the contract sum, adding that they were expected to deliver the project within 12 months.
“I can assure you that the Governor’s desire in ensuring that our communities are developed is something he is taking very seriously and that is why he has approved mobilisation for a number of these contractors.
“We are doing this because we don’t want a situation were job is given to anybody and he tells us that he has been very busy scouting for funds, hence he has not been able to kick-start the process.
“Even though we know that a lot of the contractors have the resources to mobilise to site, we have to mobilise them so that we don’t have to move at their pace.
“What we desire first is quality job to be delivered, and secondly to meet with the schedule because we don’t want a contractor to take a job and then he goes to the market to buy a mattress and begin to sleep on the project.
“We want them to be progressing steadily so that at the end of the day, we don’t have to suffer on account of fluctuations in the economy.
“The Governor has directed that we must continue to provide quality supervision on these projects. There are a number of projects we have awarded running into several billions of naira and I can assure you that in less than two weeks from now, a number of other projects would be awarded.
“Governor Oborevwori’s desire is to make sure that every local government area, whether they are in the North, Central or South Senatorial districts is touched so that by the time we are coming back to our people in 2026-2027, the people themselves would appreciate what we have done.”
Aniagwu who was in company of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon and Functioning Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr Solomon Aghagba also inspected the construction of Ichie James Obodoechi Avenue and Chikozie Okafor road in Asaba, Oshimili South Local Government Area.
He told the contractor to ensure that the drains on both side of the road were properly aligned to hit the discharge point, saying the project on completion will boost businesses on the corridor.
