Delta Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads), Mr Charles Aniagwu, has said that Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori’s insistence on rigorous oversight of ongoing projects is to “guarantee prudent use of public funds”.
He also said that the essence was to ensure that contractors delivered durable and high quality infrastructure across the state.
Aniagwu spoke on Wednesday during an inspection of rural road projects in Aniocha North and Aniocha South Local Government Areas of the state.
He went from site to site, issuing corrective directives where necessary, saying that the governor’s oversight policy was designed to protect citizens’ interest without undermining contractors’ legitimate business concerns.
He said that close monitoring of contracts had become an essential component of the administration’s project execution strategy.
“Gov. Oborevwori insists on constant supervision to create a balance between contractors’ profit motives and government’s responsibility to deliver value to the people.
“Both sides must benefit, contractors should earn their profits, but the public must also receive projects that stand the test of time,” the commissioner said.
He also said that on-site assessments often revealed technical and environmental issues not anticipated during the design stage.
”These may include the need for additional culverts, erosion-control measures, or compensation adjustments, all of which fall under approved contingencies within the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME),” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aniagwu began his inspection from the Issele-Azagba–Otulu Road, accompanied by the Director of Rural Roads, Mr Solomon Aghagba, and other senior officials of the ministry.
There, he reviewed the quality of asphalt work, inspected flood-control structures, and ordered improvements, such as the backfilling of drains and extension of discharge channels to ensure efficient water flow.
According to him, supervision helps us detect ways to strengthen what has already been done.
“The contractor has worked within specifications but needed to implement additional measures for long-term durability,” he said.
The inspection also covered the 1.95-kilometre Atuma–Iga internal roads, the 1.2-kilometre Justice Chukwudumebi Oseji Way in Idumuje-Unor, and the completed 2.75-kilometre Umuoshimi Road in Onicha-Ugbo.
Aniagwu said his physical verification at Onicha-Ugbo was vital to concluding payment for the project, and expressed satisfaction with the quality of work delivered, particularly on the Idumuje-Unor and Atuma–Iga Roads.
He lauded the governor’s policy of allocating project funds to every local government area as a major driver of rural development.
The commissioner emphasised that the current administration was committed to equitable infrastructure distribution.
He said: “These roads run through communities, where influential individuals may not live. That is deliberate.
”This government is for everyone – ordinary people, not just political elite,” he said.
Aniagwu gave reasons for the government’s emphasis on internal roads, saying that intra-community routes were essential because they link various quarters within towns.
He also said that internal roads would help to ensure residents had access to public services seamlessly.
He disclosed that funding for local government projects would increase from N2.1 billion to about N5 billion in the proposed 2026 budget.
He said that contractors were now receiving up to 40 per cent mobilisation and paid promptly once their work got certified.
“If the contractor handling the Issele-Azagba–Otulu Road completes it within the next four weeks, they will be paid before the end of this budget year,” he said.
The commissioner also addressed concerns over the growing gully along the Issele-Azagba–Otulu corridor, saying that the ministry engineers had already initiated remedial measures.
He said that further interventions would help reduce the speed of water flow, which was the primary cause of the erosion.
“We are taking action to ensure the gully is contained and prevented from expanding.
“The necessary adjustments for drainage improvement fall within BEME contingencies and will be executed to protect the road,” he said.
Aniagwu affirmed the administration’s commitment to delivering projects that enhance the quality of life across the state.
“We are impressed with what we have seen so far, but we will continue to insist on quality.
”Our ultimate goal is to uplift the living standards of our people, regardless of where they live,” he said.
