WARRI/Nigeria: As part of activities marking his second anniversary in office, Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, on Wednesday inaugurated a series of major road projects in Warri South Local Government Area, with a call for sustained peace to drive further development in the oil-rich metropolis.
The roads, inaugurated amid fanfare at Upper and Lower Erejuwa Road in Warri, include several strategic link routes such as General Hospital Road connecting Police Command Road, Ajamimogha/Mabiaku link road, Ogunu community main and internal roads, Ugbuwangue community roads, and Okere Market Road. All are part of the administration’s urban renewal plan for the city.
Addressing a crowd of residents and dignitaries, Governor Oborevwori stressed the significance of the commissioned projects. “The roads we are commissioning today are of strategic importance, not only for trade and commerce but also for our broader urban renewal efforts. With good roads, our people are happier and more productive,” he said.
Reaffirming his pledge to restore the lost glory of Warri and Effurun, the Governor noted that the Julius Berger-led construction of three flyovers and slip roads had reached advanced stages and would be completed in the first quarter of next year. He also disclosed plans for the Warri Stadium reconstruction, explaining the hurdles in securing suitable land within the city but assuring that the project is already awarded and due for delivery within the same timeframe.
“We are fully committed to the mission of advancing Delta State—in every sense: physically, economically, and in human development. In the coming weeks and months, we shall be commissioning several new projects across all three senatorial districts,” he declared.
Governor Oborevwori also addressed the contentious ward delineation exercise by INEC in Warri Federal Constituency, cautioning residents against inflammatory comments. “Please maintain the peace and desist from utterances and actions capable of heating up the polity. I am managing everybody here very well, and nobody can drag me into unnecessary issues,” he stated.
Turning to youth empowerment, he encouraged young people in the state to take advantage of the various vocational and technical training programs available. “These programs are designed to provide you with practical skills necessary to build a sustainable future,” he said.
He also reiterated the state’s legal stance against the practice of ‘Deve’—unauthorized levies on land developers. “As Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, I received the executive bill outlawing ‘Deve,’ and we passed it into law. Anyone who trespasses or unlawfully enters private property will face the full weight of the law,” the Governor warned.
On the security front, Oborevwori assured the public of ongoing collaboration with security agencies to tackle crime, especially kidnapping. He urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to authorities. “These criminals live among us, not far away. With collective vigilance and cooperation, we will overcome our security challenges,” he added.
Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, described the inaugurated roads as deliberate efforts under the Oborevwori-led administration’s urban renewal drive. “With the current transformation in Warri and across Delta, the MORE Agenda is firmly on course,” Izeze said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Area, Hon. Agbateyinro Weyinmi Isaac, thanked the Governor for the remarkable transformation witnessed in the LGA. “The people of Warri South are immensely pleased with your developmental strides,” he said.
The event drew notable dignitaries including the State Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme; Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo, SAN; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; the Olu of Warri, HRM Atuwatse III; the Orosuen of Okere-Urhobo, HRM Morris Ochuko Eyekpimi, Ohwotemu II; and the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, HRM Kingsley Orereh, Igbi II.
