By Festus Ahon
THURSDAY, February 13, 2025, remains a great day for Deltans as, on that day, history was made when in a single State Executive Council meeting, projects worth N275 billion were approved for construction across the three senatorial districts of the state.
It was the first time since the state’s creation 34 years ago that would be happening
In his opening remarks at the 2025 maiden Exco meeting, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said his administration was poised to deliver life – changing projects for the people ahead of his second year anniversary.
He said his administration had lined up humongous projects across the three senatorial districts and urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to fastrack the process of awarding the projects in line with his administration’s MORE Agenda.
According to the Governor,: “Today is the first Exco meeting of the state this year and we are happy to make use of this dry season to achieve a lot in our infrastructure drive.
“Today, Deltans will know that my administration is ready to do more for them. There are a lot we hope to achieve with today’s Exco meeting because it promises to be the best Exco meeting since our administration started.
“We are touching all the Senatorial districts and all local government areas have been carried along with the huge amounts we are spending this period.
“We are doing it so that the people will be happy and I want to advise the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to make sure they fast track the process of award of these contracts.
“We are already in February; we just have few months to the rainy season and I believe that we will have a lot of projects for inauguration during our second year anniversary in office”.
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, said EXCO approved
the execution of several projects spanning different sectors across the three senatorial districts of the state.
Aniagwu, said the approvals were record-breaking, outstanding and deafening to critics. “Today, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori led us to make history since the 34 years existence of Delta State where, in one Exco meeting over N275 billion worth of projects were approved for the good people of Delta cutting across the three senatorial districts.
“Virtually all the projects we approved today are coming with 40 per cent mobilisation without our government having to go and borrow, and that tells you how solvent we are as a state, thanks to the very accountable and transparent governance philosophy of Governor Oborevwori.”
He listed the approved projects to include construction of Uruagbesa Oria-Abraka Road, phase 1; construction of Egodo-Ogbeinbene Road, and the construction of Faculty B at the Southern Delta University, Orerokpe campus, remodelling of the Warri City Stadium.
Others are the construction of Amai-Aragba road; construction of Inam-Abbi access road; construction of internal roads at Ugbolu Hilltop Government layout (Phase 1); the construction of Umuoshimi Road with spurs to Ogbe-Aku and market road in Onicha-Ugbo; the construction of Okerenkoko – Pepeama – Kokodiagbene road with a spur to Teiteipur in Warri South-West, and the construction of Benikrukru Township Roads (Phase II).
Also approved are the rehabilitation of Bomadi-Gbaregolor road, the construction of Okwetolor – Okobia – Aragba Road; the construction of Ogbe-Isogban Road in Abavo; Owa-Ewere Road in Owa-Oyibu; approval for upward review of Ayakoromo bridge; the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of Okpanam Road from Post Office Junction to Catholic Church Roundabout to Okpanam Bypass Junction.
Equally approved are the construction of Iwride-Iyede internal roads (Phase 1); the construction of Ogbe-Ijoh/Aladja Road phase 2, and the construction of Okwighele – Amuokpokpor Road, among others.
The Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, commended Governor Oborevwori for the massive provision of 40 per cent mobilisation for all the approved projects.
He stated that no government in the state had shown more commitment to the sustained funding of projects than the Oborevwori administration. He added that Oborevwori had cleared outstanding certificates owed contractors, including N8bn previously owed on the Trans-Warri Road and bridges, as well as putting the project on the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order, ISPO module.
He said additional storm drainage work was approved to take care of Koka Junction and Achalla-Ibusa area, in addition to what CCECC was doing around Winners’ Chapel on Ibusa Road.
Izeze disclosed that Exco also approved the upward review of Ayakoromo bridge with provision for ISPO, adding that review of the design of cloverleaf on Effurun Roundabout to ensure property owners around the area were not encumbered was also approved.
On his part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, said Exco approved N1.6bn for the Contributory Health Scheme and a monthly release of N100m to ensure sustainability of the health coverage for Deltans.
He said Exco equally approved the establishment of a Specialist Hospital at Osubi with Public Laboratory and Psychiatric Clinic; total rehabilitation of General Hospital, Expan, and the completion of Library Building at Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, to ensure increase in admission intake for the University
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