The Delta State Government has threatened sanctions against the contractor handling the Orere River Bridge and Edjekota-Ewu-Orere Road projects in Ughelli South Local Government Area over the slow pace of work.
The government deemed the progress unsatisfactory and warned it would take appropriate action if the contractor failed to improve performance.
The Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads) Comrade Reuben Izeze gave the warning yesterday during an inspection of the projects accompanied by engineers from the ministry.
Izeze expressed displeasure with the level of activity at the sites accusing the contractor of failing to demonstrate the commitment required to deliver the projects within the expected timelines.
He said the contractor could no longer hide behind the rainy season to justify the slow progress insisting that the situation observed during the inspection was unacceptable.
The commissioner stated: ‘As far as I am concerned the contractor is not on site and I must express my strong displeasure with its attitude and pace of work.
‘When the rain was falling heavily that was the excuse. But today the rain can no longer be an excuse because I am not satisfied with what I am seeing.
‘It seems this contractor is taking advantage of its relationship with the state government and that is unacceptable to us.’
He noted that the Oborevwori administration had consistently supported indigenous contractors to enable them to contribute meaningfully to the state’s infrastructure development.
He stressed however that government support must be matched with commitment diligence and timely delivery warning that no contractor would be allowed to take such assistance for granted.
Izeze also accused the contractor of putting up appearances only when Ministry of Works officials visited the project sites rather than maintaining consistent construction activities.
According to him the government is no longer prepared to accept a situation where contractors mobilised workers and equipment merely to impress inspection teams.
‘This contractor is one of those that have received the full backing of this administration in a bid to encourage indigenous contractors. He has received every form of encouragement.
‘We have come here after the rain to see this kind of window dressing to make it appear as though they have been busy. For me it is unacceptable. We have gone beyond the stage of window dressing and trying to be on site only whenever the contractor hears that ministry officials are coming for inspection’ he said.
The commissioner directed the contractor’s representative to convey the government’s displeasure to the company’s management warning that another unsatisfactory inspection could trigger a recommendation for appropriate sanctions.
‘I want the representative of the contractor to pass this message to their principal that if we come here next time and witness this type of situation we will have no option but to make the appropriate recommendation to our boss in Asaba’ he warned.
He said the projects had already exceeded the period within which they ought to have made significant progress adding that the government would not continue to tolerate delays at the expense of residents who urgently need the infrastructure.
The Orere River Bridge project which includes access roads and a spur in Orere Town was awarded to the contractor on January 27 2021 at an initial cost of N9.85 billion. The contract sum was subsequently reviewed to N32.45 billion.
The same contractor is also handling the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of the Edjekota-Ewu-Orere Road awarded on September 3 2026 at a cost of N6.92 billion.
The road project was formally mobilised on September 10 2026 with completion scheduled for March 10 2028.