Oborevwori’s mandate spurs rigorous project inspections for quality, timely delivery – Aniagwu
Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has disclosed that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s constant drive for rigorous inspections was to ensure transparency, quality, and timely delivery of projects.
The Commissioner stated this on Tuesday, during the inspection of various projects in Aniocha North, Ika South and Ika North-East Local Government Areas of the state.
Aniagwu, who was in company of the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and top officials of the ministry, inspected the ongoing construction of Issele-Azagba-Otulu Road, Aziken Avenue, DDPA Low Cost Housing Estate, Boji-Boji Agbor; the 10km Owa-Alero – Otolokpo Road and
Kingdom Road, Umunede.
According to him, it was important to clarify the rationale behind the continued inspection of various ongoing projects across the state.
“According to the directive from the Governor, these inspections are crucial to ensuring that all projects align strictly with their specifications, ultimately guaranteeing that the people of Delta State get full value for every naira spent.
“The Governor emphasized that regular oversight is essential not only to hold contractors accountable but also to ensure adherence to the terms outlined in the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME).
“By doing so, the government ensures that neither the state nor its citizens are short-changed in any form,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “Another vital reason for these inspections is to increase public awareness of the developmental projects being executed—many of which the people may not be aware of.
“Through media engagement, the government aims to keep citizens informed and encourage community participation in monitoring progress.”
Aniagwu also said “Citizens are urged to use the whistleblower line to report any deviations or shortcomings in project execution.
“Additionally, these site visits allow the government to monitor whether contractors are meeting agreed timelines, especially for projects scheduled for commissioning as part of the administration’s second-year anniversary.
“This also helps in assessing the contractors’ capacity to complete their work on time and in full.
“An example is the inspection of the Issele-Azagba-Otulu corridor. While the quality of work was commended, the pace of construction drew criticism.
“The project team has been instructed to accelerate their efforts. Funding concerns are also being addressed, with instructions given to raise certificates to facilitate financial disbursements, if needed.
“These proactive steps and the Governor’s recent approval of a 40% fund release for all ongoing projects reflect the administration’s commitment to fast-tracking development, while upholding transparency and accountability”.
Aniagwu said, “When we inspect these projects, we know whether the timelines are being met or whether the contractor needs some assistance in order to complete the project or even for us to determine whether the contractor has the capacity to complete the project.
“At the Issele-Azagba – Otulu road, we are pleased with the kind of work he is doing but not happy with the speed of work. So, I have made it very clear to him that he needs to speed up work.
“The last time I went there, I raised some issues; some they have handled and some are still not done. I have asked them to raise certificates in case funding is part of the challenges.
“If the speed is increased, we will be able to gain a lot of ground. That informed the Governor’s approval of forty per cent in the recent times for all our projects.”
At Aziken Avenue, the Commissioner said, “I am impressed with the level of work here but the contractor still needs to speed up work. We were impressed with the initial speed but it looks like he has slowed down.
“The rain can possibly also undermine our intentions to have this project commissioned by May. He has assured me that it will be ready by May, but in doing so, he must not compromise standards.”
