Delta State Government has reiterated it’s commitment to the construction of legacy road projects that would stand the test of time amidst rising cost of materials.
It disclosed that it has changed its design and supervision concepts to ensure long lasting roads across the State.
The State Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads) Comrade Reuben Izeze disclosed this at the 12th edition of “Journalists Hangout” at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, on Sunday, in Asaba, the state capital.
He emphasized that the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration detests cutting corners and vowed to ensure that Deltans get the best quality of work for their money.
Flanked by the State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe and former Vice President South-South, Comrade Edward Akpati Ogwude, the Commissioner said there are no “sacred cows” in the supervision of projects across the state.
According to him, “we have spent most of the last one year doing supervisory work and as a matter of policy I must visit every road to see things for myself before any certificate is issued.
“I don’t sign any payment certificate without going there to see things for myself and in the last one year we have changed the narrative in the area of supervision of projects.
“When I came I told all the contractors that the ‘era of oga say’ had ended and I told the engineers that no contractor is bigger than them.
“If you tell any contractor to do the proper thing and they refuse just let me know and we will handle it because I know the Governor will not support anyone to circumvent the Bills of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) because he wants to please anybody.
“You cannot make your profit and still shortchange the people. The people should have roads that will last and stand the test of time.
“I have the philosophy of the Ogbemudia roads, which still stands till date despite that the man had died some years ago. That is the kind of legacy roads that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori wants to provide for Deltans.
“Legacy roads starts from the point of design and I will not allow anyone use Google map to design roads for me, you have to go to the site and show me your drains and where it is discharging to.
“Our supervision and design concept has changed. Before we bring any road to the State’s Tender Board, we must be sure that the road is designed to last minimum of 20 years.
“That is one thing we have been able to establish and the contractors know that it is no longer business as usual. You must do your work according to the BEME otherwise you must return right site.”
Comrade Izeze said Governor Oborevwori was seriously revamping infrastructure in Warri and environs and other parts of the state as he had promised in his inaugural speech.
“If you left Warri last week and by the time you return next week you see that there are changes because Julius Berger is working on the flyover bridges and road expansion projects in Warri and Effurun.
“We are also handling a number of inherited projects like the Kwale-Beneku bridge which is approaching completion. We have finished and inaugurated the Okpanam-Ibusa bypass.
“We also completed the Ohoror-Bomadi bridge and now the our sister department is handling the entire reconstruction of that stretch of road.
“Emevor-Orogun Road has also been completed and inaugurated through our sister department and we are looking at existing projects we inherited across the state to see how they can be completed for the use of the people.
“Orere Bridge in Delta Central was inherited and Governor Oborevwori is committed to funding it to completion and has also approved an upward review for the project.
“Trans-Warri – Ode-Itsekiri road is another inherited project that we have reviewed and they have told us it would be ready by May 29, 2025.
“The Governor has also put much pressure on the contractor handling the Egbo-Ideh Ayakoromo Bridge another massive project we inherited.
“Aside these inherited projects we also have some new ones that we are handling like the Okito and Sokoh Estate Road in Effurun.
“Governor Oborevwori is not ready to construct any road that will fail immediately. So the design of the road must be such that we will not have any reason to return there till the end of his administration.
“We have also done some works on PTI Road, Uti Road is also another road that we are working on and it may be ready in December, we have extracted a guarantee of 20 years based on the design of the road.
“Lower and Upper Erejuwa Roads in Warri have also been reconstructed and expanded to improve the aesthetics of the city.
“So far so good we have upped our game because the quality of work and supervision have approved and we are not going to rest on our oars to ensure that we give Deltans the best.”
On the state of Federal Roads in the state, the Commissioner said the state government would continue to intervene on federal roads as long as it bothers on the lives of Deltans especially when the roads are not encumbered on existing contracts by the Federal Government.
He explained that the State Government couldn’t intervene as it had wanted to on the Asaba-Onitsha highway because the road had been under contract all along.
In his remarks, Delta State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Churchill Oyowe, thanked the Commissioner for coming to elucidate on the activities of the State Ministry of Works.
He stressed that the “Journalists Hangout” was designed as a platform for friendly discussions with stakeholders on their contributions to society.