ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday raised fresh concerns over the quality of project execution in the Niger Delta, calling for stricter oversight and accountability measures to ensure that development interventions deliver lasting value to communities.
The governor made the position clear while receiving members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), led by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong and Hon. Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu, during a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba.
Oborevwori, who commended the committees for their oversight responsibilities, stressed that interventionist agencies like the NDDC must focus on transparency, accountability, and impact-driven projects that directly address the needs of the people.
He warned against the persistent trend of substandard project delivery, noting that some projects deteriorate shortly after completion due to poor execution. According to him, contractors must be held to higher standards to ensure durability and value for public funds.
“Development must be driven by the actual needs of the people, not assumptions,” the governor said, urging proper needs assessment before project implementation.
He further advocated for the establishment of effective feedback mechanisms that would enable communities to report poorly executed projects, citing instances where government had to intervene in failed projects, including a substandard school roofing job.
Oborevwori also highlighted the need for capacity-based project allocation, recommending that large-scale infrastructure such as flyovers be handled by experienced international contractors, while indigenous contractors should be engaged for smaller, community-based projects.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, said the joint committee was in Delta State to commence an oversight exercise on NDDC projects and considered it necessary to pay a courtesy visit to the governor.
He commended the Oborevwori administration for its achievements in infrastructure development, urban renewal, human capital development, and youth empowerment, describing the state government as committed to improving the welfare of its people.
Ekpenyong explained that the oversight visit was not only to inspect projects but also to ensure that NDDC interventions translate into tangible benefits for host communities across the region.
He assured the governor of the committee’s readiness to collaborate with the Delta State Government and other stakeholders to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and fast-track development initiatives in the Niger Delta.
The meeting reinforced a shared resolve between the Delta State Government and the National Assembly committees to deepen accountability, improve project delivery standards, and enhance the overall effectiveness of interventionist agencies operating in the region.
