Ogheneruona Tejiri, Asaba
Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF) has commended the move by the Delta State government lunder Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to commence remedial work on some selected failed federal roads, particularly the Asaba-Benin Expressway and the Agbor-Eku Road to make them more motorable for road users in the state.
This commendation is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Emmanuel Enebeli and Mr. Shadrack Onitsha, chairman and Secretary respectively of Delta Online Publishers Forum made available to Reformeronline in Asaba, the Online Publisherswhile tasked the government to engage competent contractors that will deliver quality jobs that can stand the test of time and give the state value for its money.
The online Publishers noted that the era where contracts are awarded to political associates and cronies purely as political patronage without regard for competency to execute quality jobs should be a thing of the past in Delta State.
It could be recalled that the State Government while announcing the award of contracts worth N78 billion to Julius Berger for the construction of three flyover bridges and road expansion in the Warri/Effurun megalopolis, also announced plans to carry out remedial works on some Federal Government owned Roads in the State particularly the Asaba-Benin Expressway and the Agbor-Eku Road to make them more motorable for road users in the state and the decision to bring in Julius Berger received general accolades from Deltans.
According to the online Publishers, “we want to commend the Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for harkening to the cries of Deltans over the deplorable state of most Federal Government owned roads in the state, which has made traveling along these roads an agonizing experience for many Deltans and other travelers passing through the State.
“While DOPF salutes the government for this planned remedial works on federal roads, particularly the Asaba-Benin Expressway and the Agbor-Eku Road to make them motorable for road users, we also charge the government to do due diligence on the competency of the contracting firm to undertake such remedial work.
“We were elated when we heard that a contract was awarded to a reputable construction company, Julius Berger for the construction of three flyover bridges and road expansion in the Warri/Effurun megalopolis, and we thought that Delta State had moved past the era of awarding major road contracts to Obi and Emeka Ltd.
“While we are not against patronage of local indigenous firms that have a track record of delivering quality jobs, we believe that consideration should be more on the competency of the firm than on political affinity, which has kept the state in motion without movement in the past efforts at delivering enduring projects that can stand the test of time.
“We have it on good authority, sadly that one of the local contractors who is a major party loyalist with a record of poorly executed jobs has been mandated to carry out repair works on the Agbor/Eku Road, and will soon mobilize to site to commence work immediately before October.
“We are particularly concerned about this contractor considering the controversy surrounding his company’s poor handling of the N350M repair of a failed portion of Effurun/Sapele Road leading to the then Minister of Works placing an embargo on state intervention on Federal Government owned roads
“Deltans have suffered for many years now on account of this failed Agbor/Eku Road and its repair should bring relief to our people, hence the government should put politics aside in the choice of the contractor in order not to relapse into a deeper mess a few months from now.”
