COMMUNITIES where roads are being constructed in Delta State have been urged to show understanding as the projects would be completed.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in charge of Delta North Senatorial District, Engr. Felix Omel Melenu made the call at Obiaruku, Ukwuani local government area during tour of some projects being executed by NDDC in Delta North.
He noted that most of the road contractors are working at a slow pace due to rain, adding that contractors would fully mobilize to site as the rain subsides.
Engr. Melenu stated that Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration was desirous to ensuring that all roads projects are completed in record time because of the benefits of having good roads to the economy of the state and Deltans in particular.
He urged road contractors to ensure that their projects are done to specifications and are completed on time reiterating that the era where contractors collect money and abandon the project is over.
“It is wrong for contractors to collect money for projects and fail to execute the project, it is even worse when communities are not aware that projects have been awarded in their area and they keep blaming government for not performing, whereas, the contractor has failed to meet up with his obligations,” Engr. Melenu said.
He emphasized that the essence of the visit was to assess the level of progress made on the projects being executed by the NDDC, noting, “it is sad that some contractors have done so little to show that they are capable of executing road projects.”
At Umukwata, Engr. Melenu commended the people of the community for their patients and determination to protect projects being executed in their area and assured that no stone would be left unturned for Eziokpor/Umukwata road to be completed.
The Okpala-Uku of Umukwata, Pa Ossai Idu through his spokesman, Chief Progress Asogu, observed that the visit was the first of its kind where government official came to assess the level of work done, disclosing that they have not seen or had from the contractor handling the Eziokpor/Umukwata road project.
He assured that the community will continue to welcome development projects from government and will continue to protect and assist the contractor to execute the project to specifications.
In a related development, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in charge of Delta North Senatorial District, Engr. Felix Omel Melenu has urged local government councils to be aware of projects being executed in their area.
He gave the advice at Obiaruku, Ukwuani local government area of Delta State when he paid a courtesy call on the Head of Personnel Management (HPM) of the Council, Mrs. Blessing Bialonwu.
According to him, it is important for the local government councils to be aware and play roles no matter how little to ensure that the contractors handling government projects in their area carry out their functions effectively.
He commended the Ukwuani local government council for being abreast with projects being executed in the area, noting that it ensures that there would be no duplication of projects.
Mrs. Bialonwu who was represented by an assistant Director in the Council, Mrs Helen Aghedo commended the SSA for the visit stating that monitoring of projects would make contractors seat up and meet up with their responsibilities.
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