We’re Not Owing Road Contractors, Says Gov Diri

Bayelsa State governor, Douye Diri has expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on some ongoing road projects in the state, saying his administration was not owing the contractors as funds were also promptly released to them.

The governor, who undertook an unscheduled inspection of work on the Toru-Ebeni-Okumbiri-Amatolo-Bolou-Orua-Kabeama Road, the Akaba-Okodi Road, the Oxbow Lake-Agbura Road and the Angiama Bridge project on the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, restated his administration’s commitment to the development of the state.

He said funds were being promptly released to the contractors for the speedy execution of the projects.
Diri applauded the commitment of the contractors to the projects by working even in the peak of the rainy season.

He expressed the optimism that with the pace of work, the targets would be met within the stipulated timeframe.

At the Agbura project site, the governor said, “The level of work is very appreciable,” noting that “the rains have come and certainly the pace will not be the same but I appreciate the contractors.”

In a statement yesterday by his chief press secretary, Daniel Alabrah, the governor said, “I decided to embark on an unscheduled visit. For me to see people on site working meant they have been here otherwise the sites would have closed down.

“We are also not owing them. During the campaigns, I said that the development of this state is not political. As a government, we will never politicise the development of our state.

“I appreciate what they are doing. If we continue this way, we will meet our targets on the various road projects, which I believe will not be far from the initial deadline dates,” he said.

Also, the commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, said the presence of the contractors at the sites despite the rains showed they were keeping faith with the government.

Teibowei promised that work would be intensified once the rainy season was over.