Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on Wednesday gave reasons why the multi-billion naira Trans-Warri-Ode Itsekiri roads, and bridge projects in Warri South Council Area has not been completed.
He accused the immediate past governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, of owing the contractors, Setraco Nigeria Limited, the sum of N8.8 billion.
Okowa who said this at the Warri township stadium during the People’s Democratic Party rally, added that the project was stopped by the contractor because of the inability of the previous administration to pay the debt.
He said his administration has paid the sum of 3.5 billion naira out of the sum owed, noting that work will soon commence at the site.
The Trans Warri-Ode-Itsekiri road project was awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited in 2006 by former Governor James Ibori and continued by the immediate past governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.
The road which connects several communities in Warri South and other local government areas, has 19 bridges with 10 already completed by the Chief Ibori and Dr Uduaghan administrations, while the sun of N16 billion had been paid by the previous administrations.
Okowa said, “In 2015 when we were campaignimg I promise the people of Warri South that we are going to do the Ubeji road. We also told them we are going to complete the Trans Warri-Ode Itsekiri road project.
“That project was abandoned by the contractor because the previous administration was owing them N8.8 billion. But today we have paid the sum of N3.5 billion to the contractor and work will commence very soon.”
Okowa thanked the people of Warri South Council Area for their support so far, urging them to vote for him again so as to consolidate on his achievements.
He said his administration has commissioned consultants to look at how the issue of flooding in the area could be resolved, stressing that before he completes his second term, the issue of flooding in Warri will be a thing of the past.
“We have commissioned contractors to build big drainages that will solve the issue of drainage in Warri. Preliminary work has been done and all the flood places have been identified.
“Before the end of my second tenure I will finish all the projects I have embarked on. I don’t want to embark on projects I cannot finish. This is the reason why I hardly talk. When I talk I make sure that I do what I said.
“I want to plead with you to vote all PDP candidates from the national to state level. This will make my election to be easy because God is with us,” Okowa said.
