*Inspects Projects To Mark 1st Anniversary, Lauds Local Contractors
DELTA State Governor, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, has felicitated Muslims in the state, Nigeria and all over the world on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
Oborevwori, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, in Asaba, charged the Muslim faithful to incorporate the spiritual lessons of love, peace and justice from Ramadan into their everyday lives to promote national harmony, peace and progress.
“I extend my congratulations to every one of our compatriots who has completed the cleansing fast of Ramadan. I hope and pray that the spiritual lessons of Ramadan and the teachings of the Holy Prophet- piety, love, justice, fairness, equity, peaceful coexistence with others, tolerance, honesty and dedication to duty, will stick with us all as we celebrate Eid-el-Fitri, for the greater good of our beloved country.”
The governor added: “”As we celebrate in Nigeria, it is important to remind Nigerians of the imperative for mutual respect for all faiths and customs and the necessity to continue to live together in peace, according to our religious and cultural beliefs.
“Regardless of ethnicity or faith, may the teachings and blessings of the Holy Month permeate all national endeavours, favourably impact our attitudes towards one another and encourage a stronger dedication to the peace, unity and stability of the country.”
Meanwhile, Oborevwori on Monday, April 8, said his administration would be inaugurating projects across the three senatorial districts to mark his first year in office on May 29.
The governor disclosed this while being conducted round some of the projects by his Commissioners for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Reuben Izeze, and Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Charles Aniagwu.
Some of the projects inspected include Edo Road in Ughelli; Emevor-Orogun; the bridge across the Obo River at Ogwashi-Uku in sector C1 of the Ughelli-Asaba Road dualisation and the 5.3km Okpanam-Ibusa bypass.
The governor said some projects had already been completed and earmarked for inauguration even before May 29, including Edo Road in Ughelli, being constructed by Obakpor Engineering Limited.
“I was here some weeks ago and the contractor promised that they were going to finish work on the road by the end of May, and that’s why I have come here to inspect what they are doing.
“We introduced some box culverts here to channel water across to make the road durable because this place is always flooded. From what we have done here, once this ring road project is completed, it will help to reduce traffic congestion at Otovwodo Junction,” he said.
Oborevwori said he was glad to return to inspect the progress of work at the 4.4km Emevor-Orogun Road, noting: “I am very happy to be here today, because a few months ago, I commissioned Enwhe Road Phase II in Isoko South, now, I am in Isoko North.
“So, there is no local government area that would be left out in our M.O.R.E Agenda. In all the local government areas, we will make sure that we execute projects that will positively impact the socio-economic lives of the people, and I am very sure that this project will be commissioned by next month.”
He explained that the state government had already deployed the use of concrete technology in some road constructions, including the Uduere and Edo roads in Ughelli, adding: “We are doing concrete on some of the roads because of the terrain of the area and I am satisfied with what the contractor has done so far on that road.”
The governor said local contractors should be awarded contracts to ascertain their level of competence, noting: “I am very impressed with the performance of local contractors in the state. Yes, the big contractors are also doing very well.
“As you can see, the government is patronising both local and big contractors, but I am very happy with local contractors. With what I am seeing here now, the standard is very good and I am happy with what they are doing. We will continue to patronise local contractors that are doing well.”
He stressed the imperative of state government’s intervention on federal roads, as the people and residents of Delta use the roads, adding that whether or not the federal government would reimburse the state remains a matter for the future.
“So, any road that we are doing, whether federal or state, as a government, we are doing what we know that will benefit the people and make our people not to suffer. Their well-being is more important to us,” he said.
