Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Wednesday, said the State Government was connecting communities with roads and bridges for the sustainable development of the state.
Governor Oborevwori stated this during inspection of Okpanam-Ibusa bypass road; Beneku bridge; Emevor-Orogun Road; Orere bridge and Model Technical College, Orerokpe.
The Governor who emphasised on project continuity for sustainable development said it was a fulfilment of his pledge to complete existing projects while also initiating new ones.
Oborevwori said; “the Okpanam-Ibusa bypass is a road that is very key to connect from the Benin/Asaba highway to Ibusa, to give access to the people around that area.
“I was there last year to inspect the project and I felt that I needed to go again to ascertain the level of work that has been done because the contractor promised that in April/May this year, the job will be completed.
“Hopefully, it will be commissioned within my one year in office. The good thing is that they have gone very far. That erosion is something that will not affect the construction of the road but will certainly affect it in future.
“So it is necessary for us to deal with it, that’s why I have asked the contractor to look at it again and give me more details on what we can do to solve that problem.”
On the Beneku bridge, Governor Oborevwori said it was very important because the people of Ndokwa West and Ndokwa East have been using pontoon to carry vehicles across; even bikes are carried with pontoon and paddle canoes.
He said: “The previous administration felt that it was good to put a bridge here. It is also a way of connecting with the people and that’s what we have been doing.
“I also felt that I should come and look at it to ascertain the level of work done and how far it has gone. Seeing it like this, it has gone about ninety percent. What is left is the asphalt and the connecting roads. I believe it will be ready in the next two months.
“By the time we finish this work, you can drive through and walk through it and nobody will want to use the pontoon again. Like I said before, we are working as a state and I will sustain every ongoing project, complete them and initiate new ones.”
On the 4.5km Emevor-Orogun road phase, Governor Oborevwori commended the contractor for the quality of work done assuring that the project would be completed in no distant time.
At Orere Bridge, Oborevwori commended the contractor, Obakpor Engineering Limited for the quality of work, adding that the bridge and access road would be completed at the end of the year.
“We are here now in Ughelli South, as you are driving through, the last village is Ewu, without this bridge, you can’t connect to Orere and this bridge also connects other fifteen villages.
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“So by constructing this bridge, you have touched the lives of people in those villages and these people are Deltans. So the bridge is very important that’s why I continued with the project.
“I have come here to inspect it today and see how far it’s going. The contractor has promised me that before the end of this year, this bridge will be completed.
“So I want to assure the people of Ewu and Orere that this bridge and other roads connected to it will be completed before the end of this year.
“In Delta State here we patronise both the Indigenous and foreign contractors. The 4.5km road is being done by an indigenous contractor and the quality of work done is very good.
“So is the Beneku bridge, you can see the quality of work done. This one, if you look at the standard, it’s like Julius Berger’s standard. So we are happy with the work.”
Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of Bendel and Bishop Anglican Diocese of Ughelli, Archbishop Cyril Odutemu lauded Governor Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for awarding the Orere bridge and prayed God to grant the State Government resources to complete the project.
The Governor was conducted round the projects by the Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads) Comrade Reuben Izeze; Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr Charles Aniagwu and top officials of the various ministries.
