The newly completed bridge linking Ovwor , Effurun-Otor in Ughelli South LGA
BURUTU/Nigeria: Delta Government on Wednesday said the infrastructural development that will open up communities in the state to economic development will continued to be pursued.
The Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, made the disclosure in Ayakoromo while speaking to newsmen shortly after inspecting ongoing construction of the bridge linking Ayakoromo in Burutu and Egbo-Ideh community in Ughelli South Local Government Area.
He stated that the project whose contract was awarded in 2013 was one of the critical infrastructure inherited from the previous administration.
Augoye said that the project had a budgetary provision of N1 billion in the 2020 budget and was the only project not affected by the recent downward review of the budget as a result of economic downturn occasioned by prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.
He disclosed that more funds would be released to the contractor soon to enable it to mobilise back to site to complete the piling works in the water.
He said that with work at 68.5 per cent completed, the project would be up-scaled in 2021 and ensure that it was completed before the end of the administration in 2023.
The commissioner thanked the Ayakoromo community for the cooperation given to the contractor, saying “the governor specifically directed me to visit the site to see what is happening here.
“From what I have seen, the contractor has not mobilised fully back to site, although there are some skeletal works going on here; he has assured me that they will mobilise fully from Monday.
“I want to assure the community and the contractor that the governor has taken this bridge as a top priority project.
“This is the only project whose cost was not reduced in the reviewed budget; it has a provision of N1billion in the revised 2020 budget and we intend to scale it up in the 2021 budget.
The Ayakoromo Bridge project in Burutu LGA
“The governor has also assured me that by next week, he is going to release funds to the contractor to facilitate the work.
“I appeal to the contractor to ensure that he returns fully to site by next week to complete the piling work, and once that is done, the work is as good as completed.”
Augoye said that the project suffered funding challenges until Governor Okowa took assumed office in 2015.
“The project was awarded in 2013 and has been facing so much funding challenges, but when Governor Ifeanyi Okowa took over in 2015, he decided that this is one the projects that must be completed in the life time of his administration.
“So, it is our desire that this project will be completed and inaugurated before the end of this administration in 2023.
“As you can see, the piling work is almost completed and from the record before me, the contractor has achieved 68.5 per cent of the job which means that once the river piling is completed, the job will be delivered at the shortest possible time,” he stated.
Chairman of Ayakoromo community, Mr Miekoromo Moses, thanked the governor for the project and appealed for more funding to it to be completed on time.
“We, the entire people of Ayakoromo community appreciate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for embarking on this bridge project since he came into office, and has brought the project to a reasonable level.
“We also express our appreciation to the governor for making out time to visit the project in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
Delta Community Rejoices With the Completion of Bridge Awarded After 39 Years
The people of Ovwor-Olomu and Effurun-Otor communities in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta are full of joy as the historic bridge linking both communities has been completed by the state government.
The project, whose contract was first awarded 39 years ago, was abandoned by previous administrations in the state until Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa came into office and awarded the project to Obakpor Engineering Construction Company Limited.
The bridge, which is 100 meters long with 20 meters span, has a height of 45 meters from the water level and three hundred meters asphalt road and side drains on both sides of the approach.
Inspecting the project on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, said that the project was a dream come true for the people of both communities, adding that it was another milestone in achieving the Stronger Delta vision of Okowa administration.
He said the project had opened up the economic landscape of both communities, and that investors were now free to invest in the area without hindrances.
He commended the contractor for his ingenuity in delivering the project, noting that the project was one of the success stories of indigenous engineering in the country.
“The successful completion of this project is one of the legacy projects of the Okowa administration and we are proud that it is one of the achievements of indigenous engineering in Nigeria.
“The bridge, which links both communities, was long abandoned by subsequent administrations since 1991 when it was first awarded by OMPADEC.
“The completion of this bridge opens up both communities for investment as you can see that economic activities have picked up tremendously,” Augoye stated.
Conducting the commissioner through the bridge, Chairman of Obakpor Engineering Construction Limited, Chief John Oguma, said that he felt fulfilled to have delivered the project.
“Let me say that I am the most fulfilled man today because of the completion of this legacy project.
“I call it a legacy project because my father is from Ovwor and my mother is from Effurun-Otor and this bridge which was first awarded in 1991 was abandoned by previous administrations.
“I must thank Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the political will he muster to pull this project through. The people of both communities and their generations unborn will long remember him for this legacy project,” he stated.
The commissioner also inspected ongoing construction of access road to new tankers park, access road to Warri Refinery and the Depot, Dafiakpor road, off Sedeco Road as well as Ogodogun Street, Off Udu Road.
He also inspected ongoing dualisation of Effurun-Sapele road, and commended the contractors for quality of work.
He urged them to increase their pace of work to meet completion timelines for the various projects.
