The Delta State Government has issued a stern warning of impending sanctions against the contractor handling the Orere River Bridge and the Edjekota–Ewu–Orere Road projects in Ughelli South Local Government Area. State authorities expressed deep dissatisfaction with the current pace of construction, noting that the progress made so far fails to meet expectations or justify the substantial public investment in the multi-billion naira infrastructure.
During a recent site inspection, the Commissioner for Works for Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze, voiced his frustration regarding the level of activity observed. Accompanied by ministry engineers, the commissioner dismissed the rainy season as a valid excuse for the delays, emphasizing that dry weather conditions have since returned without any corresponding acceleration in the construction workflow.
Izeze specifically accused the contractor of engaging in window dressing, alleging that workers and equipment are only mobilized to create an illusion of active construction right before scheduled official visits. He pointed out that the administration has consistently supported indigenous contractors to foster local capacity and drive regional development, but stressed that such backing requires reciprocity in the form of diligence, commitment, and adherence to project timelines.
The Orere River Bridge project, incorporating essential access roads and a spur in Orere Town, was initially awarded in January 2021 before its cost was later reviewed upward to N32.45 billion. Furthermore, the related rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of the Edjekota–Ewu–Orere Road was awarded at a cost of N6.92 billion with a scheduled completion date in March 2028.
Concluding the inspection, the commissioner directed the contractor's onsite representative to relay the government's ultimatum to corporate management. He warned that another unsatisfactory site visit would compel the ministry to recommend official sanctions to state leadership, ensuring that residents are not indefinitely deprived of critical transportation infrastructure.
Source reporting: The Nation — 0000-00-00 00:00:00
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