By MAY ETAGHERURE ATUZULO

Delta Government Threatens Sanctions Over Delays on Orere Bridge, Road Projects

THE Delta State Government has threatened to sanction the contractor handling the Orere River Bridge and Edjekota–Ewu–Orere road projects in Ughelli South Local Government Area over its unsatisfactory pace of work.

The Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, issued the warning on Friday during an inspection of the projects.

Accompanied by engineers from the Ministry of Works, Izeze expressed displeasure with the progress recorded at both sites. He accused the contractor of failing to demonstrate the commitment needed to complete the projects within their expected timelines.

Government Rejects Rainy Season Excuse

During the inspection, the commissioner insisted that the contractor could no longer blame the rainy season for the slow progress.

He said the condition of the sites showed that the company had not done enough, despite the government’s support and the time already available to advance construction.

“As far as I am concerned, the contractor is not on site, and I must express my strong displeasure with its attitude and pace of work,” he said.

Izeze added that heavy rainfall had previously served as the contractor’s explanation for the delays. However, he maintained that the weather could no longer justify the poor performance observed during the latest inspection.

He also expressed concern that the contractor appeared to be taking advantage of its relationship with the state government, describing such an attitude as unacceptable.

Izeze Accuses Contractor of Window Dressing

The commissioner further accused the company of creating an appearance of activity whenever Ministry of Works officials scheduled inspection visits.

According to him, the contractor sometimes mobilised workers and equipment to the sites merely to impress government officials rather than maintain consistent construction activities.

He recalled that the Oborevwori administration had deliberately supported indigenous contractors to encourage their participation in the state’s infrastructure development.

Nevertheless, Izeze stressed that such support must produce measurable results through commitment, diligence and timely project delivery.

“This contractor is one of those that have received the full backing of this administration in a bid to encourage indigenous contractors. He has received every form of encouragement,” he said.

He added that the government would no longer tolerate what he described as window dressing or the practice of appearing on site only when officials arrived for inspection.

Contractor Faces Possible Sanctions

Following the inspection, Izeze directed the contractor’s representative to communicate the government’s displeasure to the company’s management.

He warned that another unsatisfactory inspection could prompt a recommendation for appropriate sanctions.

The commissioner also noted that the projects had already exceeded the period within which they should have recorded significant progress. Consequently, he said the government would not continue to tolerate delays that deny residents access to essential infrastructure.

Details of the Orere Bridge Contract

The Orere River Bridge project includes access roads and a spur in Orere Town. The state government awarded the contract on 27 January 2021, at an initial cost of ₦9.85 billion.

However, the contract sum was subsequently reviewed upward to ₦32.45 billion.

The same contractor is also responsible for rehabilitating and applying an asphalt overlay to the Edjekota–Ewu–Orere road.

The government awarded that contract on 3 September 2026, at a cost of ₦6.92 billion. It formally mobilised the contractor on 10 September 2026, with a scheduled completion date of 10 March 2028.

Government Demands Better Performance

The latest warning signals the administration’s growing dissatisfaction with the contractor’s handling of the projects.

While the government maintains its commitment to supporting indigenous businesses, Izeze made it clear that contractors must reciprocate that support through consistent work and timely delivery.

Ultimately, the government says residents of Orere and Ewu communities deserve the infrastructure for which public funds have already been committed. The contractor must therefore improve its performance or risk facing the consequences.