Delta Pays N30bn to Contractors for Various Projects

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba

Delta State Government has released the sum of N30 billion for payment of outstanding certificates owed contractors in the state.

The State Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads) Mr Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this while speaking with journalists shortly after inspecting ongoing projects at Emevor and Evwreni in Isoko North and Ughelli North local government areas of the state.

Aniagwu commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the approval, adding that it would encourage contractors to redouble their efforts towards delivering their respective projects on schedule.

According to him, not too long ago, Governor  Oborevwori approved the payment to different contractors to the tune for almost N30 billion, noting that  is why a lot of our contractors have recently moved back to site.

Aniagwu said: “We are already making plans to commence, in no distant time, to also continually pay so that contractors can continue to work and our people continue to get value for the jobs that we have awarded for the ease of movement across the 25 local government areas of
Delta.

“I can assure you we are not having any challenge and I am sure the contractors are doing quite fine. And, in areas where they need us to fast-track payment of interim certificates we have assured them that we will speed up the process so that at the end of the day nothing stalls the work they are doing.”

The commissioner commended the youths of Emevor community for cooperating with the contractor, stressing that government would continue to sensitise the people to take ownership of projects executed in their areas.

“It behoves on communities to continue to cooperate with government and contractors that have been engaged by government to carry out projects in their communities. It is important that they own it.

“You will recall the last time I went on inspection, I did say that we are going to set up a call centre where the citizens will have the opportunity to interface with us.

“I am happy to announce that they are already interfacing with us such that if a contractor is not doing the right thing they can call our attention, and if anybody is doing anything that will undermine a particular projects in their communities they can also talk to us,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner has warned that the burning of tyres along roads was prohibited across the state and urged community leaders to continue sensitising the people to forestall further damage to the roads.

“The interface with communities will continue and we will continue to sensitise presidents-general of community associations, the youth leaders and all such enlightened persons in these communities.

“They should impress it on their people to continue to exhibit the right attitude not only with respect to government property but even private property that are in their domain.

“By doing so, they will have much longer time to enjoy such facilities and we will be glad if this road stands the test of time, up to the next 30 years.

“This means that instead of the community asking us to come for road repair, they would be asking us to construct another one, because whatever money we are going to spend in repairing what was wilfully damaged could have been available for channeling into many more projects.

“Burning of tyres along tarred roads is strictly prohibited because once you do that, whether in the name of protest, you would have ended up melting the asphalt in that place, and once that happens you begin to have potholes on the road.

“We plead with our people to take care of projects that are sited in their different communities,” Aniagwu further said.

On Tuesday, the works commissioner warned that the Delta State Government had banned the erection of speed breaks on any road in the state without express approval from the State Ministry of Works.

Aniagwu, who stated this shortly after inspecting the 4.04 kilometers Phase I of Emevor/Ivrogbo/Orogun Road in Isoko North and the 240 meters Palace Road, Evwreni in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state, noted that indiscriminate construction of speed breaks on roads had reached disturbing proportion.