The Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has decried the non-chalant attitude of the Federal Ministry of Works towards the rehabilitation of failed sections of the Warri/Sapele Road.
He spoke when he inspected the on-going rehabilitation of the road being carried out by the state government.
Okowa, who was accompanied by top government officials, said that he has discussed the issue of the rehabilitation and re-construction of the road with the Minister of Works, Raji Fashola.
He said he was surprised that the Federal Controller of Works in the state has not shown any interest on the project despite several contacts and the fact that the road is a federal road.
“I am not happy with the attitude of the Federal Ministry of Works in the state for failing to show interest in partnering with the state government in rehabilitating the failed sections of the Warri/Sapele dual carriage way which is a federal road and after several contacts with him.”
He promised to invite the Federal Controller of Works to explain their non-challance towards the rehabilitation of the road.
Senator Okowa assured the contractor, Obakpor Engineering Limited, that his government would provide the necessary funds to deliver the project within the time frame.
He said Deltans were the ones using the road and the economy of the surrounding communities was being affected by the failed sections.
Engr. Dona Umukoro, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, who conducted the governor and his team round the project site said that excavation work has been done on both failed sections of the road and that the areas would be sandfilled before stone basing.
He informed the Governor Okowa that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has responded to his Ministry’s call for partnership on the road rehabilitation, while the Federal Ministry of Works has not.
He gave an assurance to the governor that the project would be delivered on time.
