BOMADI/Nigeria: In a decisive rebuttal to assertions made by the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs regarding the rehabilitation of the Bedesiegha bridge along Bomadi Road, Delta State Government has firmly denied any involvement from the federal body in the project.
Speaking at the project site in a briefing with journalists on Saturday, the State Commissioner for Works Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze, dismissed the claims as “mendacious” and suggested they amounted to an attempt to deceive the Federal Government.
Izeze, joined by other officials including Mr. Charles Aniagwu from the Ministry of Works, Rural and Riverine Roads, Hon. Emmanuel Sinebe, and Engr. Fred Edafioghor, clarified the timeline and responsibilities regarding the project. He stated, “The approach to the bridge was eroded by flood in 2022 and the Delta State Government awarded this remedial work in December 2022 with a 6-month completion period which was not feasible because of another round of flood that made the place inaccessible.”
He further elaborated, “The Governor was particularly concerned because this road leads to five local governments and Bayelsa State, and Niger Construction Company concluded work on the bridge on December 20, 2023, and it was subsequently opened up for use by the general public during Christmas.”
Highlighting a critical point of contention, Izeze revealed, “The main reason why we are here today is that in the course of laying the Asphalt in January, we discovered that certain persons had attempted to take credit for this job that was done by the Delta State Government through Niger Cat Construction Company.”
He continued, “By their action they made it seem as if it was the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs that was responsible for the rehabilitation of the bridge, but that is actually not the case.”
Expressing support for transparency and accountability, Aniagwu commended the ministry’s supervision in ensuring project delivery according to specification. “I am happy that the work has been well delivered according to the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation BEME,” he affirmed.
In a strong stance against corruption, Aniagwu emphasized, “We are also interested in helping the Federal Government to fight corruption because those who came here to erect their signpost without doing any work here obviously had the intention of deceiving the Federal Government.”
Furthermore, Hon. Emmanuel Sinebe praised Governor Oborevwori for the timely completion of the project, underscoring its significance to the local community.
Earlier clarification provided by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Fred Edafioghor, shed light on the technical aspects of the bridge’s rehabilitation, outlining the efforts undertaken by the Delta State Government to secure and enhance the infrastructure.
The Delta State Government’s strong rebuttal serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate attribution in infrastructure projects, particularly in fostering transparency and accountability within government initiatives.
