ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has dismissed reports suggesting that the Olomoro–Igbide Road project was a Federal Government intervention under the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).
Aniagwu, in a statement on Friday, clarified that the project was neither conceived nor funded by the Federal Government but was wholly executed by the Delta State Government under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s MORE Agenda on rural infrastructure.
He explained that the State Executive Council approved the project in August 2024 and subsequently handed it over to Lebtech Construction on November 24, 2024. According to him, the project was fully funded by the state government, completed to specification, and now awaits formal inauguration.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Olomoro–Igbide Road is a Delta State Government project. It was approved by the State Executive Council in August 2024 under the leadership of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The state government provided full funding, and the project has been delivered to the people of Olomoro and Igbide communities in line with specifications,” Aniagwu stated.
The Commissioner recalled several supervisory visits he personally undertook to the site, including joint inspections with Governor Oborevwori, Deputy Governor Sir Monday Onyeme, and the State Commissioner for Lands, Surveys and Urban Development, Chief Emamusi Obiodeh, an illustrious son of Igbide Kingdom.
“I personally supervised the project at different stages of construction to ensure standards were upheld. On different occasions, His Excellency Governor Oborevwori and the Deputy Governor led members of the state’s project monitoring committee on inspection to ascertain milestones on the Olomoro–Igbide road project. We saw firsthand the quality of work delivered, and I can confidently say this is a state-driven project ready for inauguration,” he added.
Aniagwu was reacting to a post by Tracka, a civic group monitoring projects nationwide, which claimed on Facebook that the Olomoro road was being tracked as a federally funded intervention under the NDE. The group also alleged that while the road had been asphalted, drainage works were yet to be completed at the Olomoro end.
While commending Tracka for its role in promoting accountability, Aniagwu urged the organization to verify facts more diligently before publication. “We appreciate Tracka’s role in tracking projects across Nigeria, but in this case, their claim was misleading. The Olomoro–Igbide Road has nothing to do with the Federal Government or the NDE. It is purely a Delta State Government initiative under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. Going forward, I urge them to exercise greater caution and courtesy in their reporting so that citizens are not misled,” he cautioned.
Aniagwu reassured residents that the project has been fully delivered and will soon be inaugurated, even as road users are already enjoying smoother motoring. He emphasized that the Olomoro–Igbide road, alongside many others across the state, reflects the administration’s commitment to rural development and inclusive infrastructure growth.
