By Festus Ahon
THURSDAY, February 13, 2025, remains a great day for Deltans as history was made since the state’s creation 34 years ago when in one single State Executive Council meeting, projects worth N275 billion were approved for construction across all sectors in the three senatorial districts of the state.
In his opening remarks at the meeting, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said his administration was poised to deliver life-changing projects for the people ahead of his second anniversary.
He said his administration had lined up humongous projects across the three senatorial districts and urged Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to fast-track the process of awarding the projects in line with his administration’s MORE Agenda.
He said: “Today is the first Exco meeting of the state this year and we are happy to make use of this dry season to achieve a lot in our infrastructure drive.
“Today, Deltans will know that my administration is ready to do more for them. There is a lot we hope to achieve with today’s Exco meeting because it promises to be the best Exco meeting since our administration started.
“We are touching all the Senatorial districts and all local government areas have been carried along with the huge amounts we are spending this period.
“We are doing it so that the people will be happy, and I want to advise the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies to make sure they fast-track the process of awarding these contracts.
“We are already in February; we just have a few months to the rainy season, and I believe that we will have a lot of projects for inauguration during our second anniversary in office.”
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said EXCO approved over N275 billion for the execution of several projects spanning different sectors across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Aniagwu said the approvals were record-breaking, outstanding, and deafening to critics. “Today, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori led us to make history since the 34 years existence of Delta State where in one Exco meeting, over N275 billion worth of projects were approved for the good people of Delta cutting across the three senatorial districts.
“Virtually all the projects we approved today are coming with 40 percent mobilization without our government having to go and borrow, and that tells you how solvent we are as a state, thanks to the very accountable and transparent governance philosophy of Governor Oborevwori.”
He listed the approved projects to include the construction of Uruagbesa Oria-Abraka Road, phase 1; construction of Egodo-Ogbeinbene Road, and the construction of Faculty B at the Southern Delta University, Orerokpe campus; remodeling of the Warri City Stadium.
Others are the construction of the Amai-Aragba road; construction of the Inam-Abbi access road; the construction of internal roads at Ugbolu Hilltop Government layout (Phase 1); the construction of Umuoshimi Road with spurs to Ogbe-Aku and market road in Onicha-Ugbo; the construction of Okerenkoko – Pepeama – Kokodiagbene road with a spur to Teiteipur in Warri South-West, and the construction of Benikrukru Township Roads (Phase II).
Also approved are the rehabilitation of Bomadi-Gbaregolor road, the construction of Okwetolor – Okobia – Aragba Road; the construction of Ogbe-Isogban Road in Abavo; Owa-Ewere Road in Owa-Oyibu; approval for upward review of Ayakoromo bridge; the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Okpanam Road from Post Office Junction to Catholic Church Roundabout to Okpanam Bypass Junction.
Equally approved are the construction of Iwride-Iyede internal roads (Phase 1), the construction of Ogbe-Ijoh/Aladja Road Phase 2, and the construction of Okwighele – Amuokpokpor Road, among others.
The Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, commended Governor Oborevwori for the massive provision of 40 percent mobilization for all the approved projects.
He stated that no government in the state had shown more commitment to the sustained funding of projects than the Oborevwori administration. He added that Oborevwori had cleared outstanding certificates owed contractors, including N8bn previously owed on the Trans-Warri Road and bridges, as well as putting the project on the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order, ISPO module.
He said additional storm drainage work was approved to take care of Koka Junction and Achalla-Ibusa area, in addition to what CCECC was doing around Winners’ Chapel on Ibusa Road.
Izeze disclosed that Exco also approved the upward review of the Ayakoromo bridge with provision for ISPO, adding that a review of the design of cloverleaf on Effurun Roundabout to ensure property owners around the area were not encumbered was also approved.
On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, said Exco approved N1.6bn for the Contributory Health Scheme and a monthly release of N100m to ensure the sustainability of the health coverage for Deltans.
He said Exco equally approved the establishment of a Specialist Hospital at Osubi with a Public Laboratory and Psychiatric Clinic, total rehabilitation of the General Hospital, Expan, and the completion of the Library Building at Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, to ensure an increase in admission intake for the university.
…Inducted into NANS hall of fame
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Tuesday, inducted Governor Sheriff Oborevwori into its Hall of Fame, following what it termed his monumental infrastructural and human capital development across the state.
The induction was performed by the Global President of NANS, Comrade Lucky Emonefe when he led members of the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the association on a courtesy visit to the Governor.
Comrade Emonefe said Governor Oborevwori’s phenomenal development strides were visible to all Deltans in particular and Nigerians as a whole, a development he said singled him out for the honor, and assured him of the continued support of the students’ body in advancing his administration’s MORE Agenda for the good of Deltans.
Comrade Emonefe said the Award of Excellence bestowed on Governor Oborevwori was in appreciation of his passionate commitment to ensuring that the education sector of the state economy received its pride of place in the scheme of things.
…Gets NADESSTU’s icon of educational debt award
The National Association of Delta State Students (NADESSTU WORLDWIDE), in conjunction with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has presented Governor Sheriff Oborevwori with a Merit Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the educational sector.
The award was presented to Governor Oborevwori during a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba on Tuesday. Speaking during the presentation, NADESSTU President Comrade Monday Wiska said the award celebrates Governor Oborevwori’s achievements, including approval for the year 2023 and 2024 bursary payments to 30,116 and 32,028 students, respectively.
He listed enhanced access to quality education, improved infrastructure in schools, and promotion of educational reforms that support student development as other reasons for the award.
…Appreciates Chevron for staying back in Warri
Still, on Tuesday, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori commended Chevron Nigeria Limited for staying back in Warri when other oil companies left the city.
While assuring that the state was safe for business, he said his administration would not allow host communities to disrupt oil production.
The Governor spoke when he played host to the management of Chevron Nigeria Limited who visited him at Government House, Asaba.
Oborevwori said, “If oil production is high, Delta State will benefit because, today, we are number one in oil production. If you disrupt operations, we will not benefit”.
While appreciating the continuous contributions of Chevron Nigeria Limited to the nation’s economy and development, he applauded the management of the company for coming to interface with the state government.
Governor Oborevwori implored the company to continue to do more for their host communities, adding, “I have known Chevron all my life because I am a Warri boy. There is nothing I do not know about Chevron. We have a lot of regard for Chevron.
“Many companies left Warri but Chevron is still here with us. Warri is a home for Chevron, and that is the reason why if they are having any community issues, I always talk to our communities to make sure that there is cooperation between them and the company.
“I am also aware of what you are doing in terms of social responsibility to our people. But you know that our people need more and you have promised that you will do more. You also know that my agenda is MORE for Deltans.”
