Oborevwori summons contractor, consultant over delay in Delta technical college project
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed displeasure over the prolonged delay in the completion of the Technical College, Irri, in Isoko South Local Government Area, directing that the contractor and project consultant be summoned to explain the situation.
The governor made his position known during an unscheduled inspection of the project on Monday, where he assessed the level of work and described the pace of execution as unacceptable.
Oborevwori said the project, which was awarded in 2019, ought to have been completed long ago, lamenting that after seven years, significant aspects of the work were still outstanding.
According to him, the condition of the project made it impossible to accept the contractor’s assurance that the college would be ready by August.
“I spoke with the commissioner, who informed me that the contractor promised to complete the project by August. But judging from what I have seen on the ground, I do not think that timeline is achievable.
“The workshop has not even commenced, landscaping has not been done, and some parts of the roofing are still incomplete. What is visible at the front does not reflect the situation behind the buildings, which is why I decided to inspect every section of the project.
“I am not satisfied with what I have seen. A project awarded in 2019 should not still be at this stage after seven years. The question is, what has caused this delay?” the governor said.
Oborevwori also frowned at the absence of both the contractor and workers during the inspection, saying their absence raised concerns about the seriousness attached to the project.
“If a contractor is committed to delivering a project, you should find workers actively engaged on site. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Neither the contractor nor workers were present, and I am dissatisfied with the level of commitment,” he stated.
The governor attributed the slow progress partly to poor supervision, noting that the consultant handling the project had failed in the responsibility of keeping the government properly informed about the pace of work.
“I will invite both the contractor and the consultant because the consultant has not done enough. The consultant is expected to supervise the project effectively, monitor progress and regularly brief the client. From what I have observed, the supervision has been inadequate,” he added.
He disclosed that the delay had disrupted plans for the institution to admit its first set of students by September this year.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to ensure that contractors handling public projects deliver quality jobs within agreed timelines, stressing that delays and abandoned projects would no longer be tolerated.
During the inspection, Oborevwori was received by the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Council, Warri Ovoke Friday; the Odio-Ologbo of Irri Kingdom, HRM Simon Wajutome Odhomo, Igbogidi I; and a former President-General of the Isoko Development Union, High Chief Iduh Amadhe.
