Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and the All Progressive Congress (APC) have disagreed over the four legacy road projects awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC in the Warri/Effurun metropolis of Warri and Uvwie local government areas of the state.
While the governor said the “cumulative contract sum for the four projects is #77,997,159,339.91 only,” APC State Publicity Secretary, Barr. Valentine Onojeghuo, accused the governor of over-inflating the cost of the project to the tune of N50 billion.
Again, the governor vowed that the completion period of the projects stands at 27 months but the APC noted that as usual with the PDP government in the state, the project will not be completed in the next eight years.
Governor Oborevwori at the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, in Warri, promised to aggressively pursue upgrading roads across the state’s three senatorial districts in line with his MORE agenda.
He itemised the four projects to include: “Design and Construction of Flyover Bridge from Enerhen Junction, Effurun to Marine Gate, Warri in Uvwie, and Warri South Local Government Areas.
“Study, Design and Construction of Road Expansion and Improvement Works on the Section Of DSC/NPA Expressway from Effurun Roundabout to DSC Roundabout on the Effurun/Patani (East/West) Highway, including Construction of a ¾ Cloverleaf Interchange at the Existing Effurun Flyover Bridge as well as two Pedestrian Bridges, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area.
“Design and Construction of a Flyover Bridge at PTI Junction, along the Effurun/Patani (East/West) Highway, Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area and design and construction of flyover at DSC roundabout, along the Effurun/Patani (East/West) Highway, Effurun in Uvwie LGA”
The governor said the “strategic projects are aimed at solving the gridlock often experienced between Effurun Roundabout, through PTI Road Junction, and DSC Roundabout on the Effurun/Patani (East/West) Highway at Effurun.
“They will also ease vehicular movement at the stretch from Enerhen Junction, Effurun, to Marine Gate, Warri, in Uvwie and Warri South Local Government Areas.”
But APC raised an alarm that the multi-billion naira flyover project was not only a ruse, but a conduit pipe to fleece Deltans of over N50 billion.
A press release signed by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Barr. Valentine Onojeghuo, in Asaba, noted that it was impossible for three flyovers which are not up to 1,500 metres and the expansion of the NPA-DSC expressway from Effurun roundabout to cost up to N79 billion.
The party’s publicity secretary accused the Oborevwori’s administration as continuing in the massive fraud which his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, visited on the state economy for eight years, adding that “the leopard cannot change its spots.”
