The four legacy road projects awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria PLC in the metropolis of Warri and Effurun metropolis, respectively of Warri and Uvwie local government areas of Delta State are now bones of contention between Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor had disclosed that the “cumulative contract sum for the four projects is N77,997,159,339.91.”
Oborevwori, however, is being accused by the Delta State APC Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, of over-inflating the cost of the project to the tune of N50 billion.
While the governor has vowed that the completion period of the projects stands at 27 months, APC scoffed, saying that, as usual with the PDP government in the state, the project will not be completed in the next eight years.
Gov Oborevwori, at the groundbreaking ceremony in Warri on Monday, promised to aggressively pursue upgrading roads across the state’s three senatorial districts in line with his MORE agenda.
He itemised the four projects to include a flyover bridge from Enerhen Junction, Effurun, to Marine Warri; construction of a three-quarter Cloverleaf interchange at the existing Effurun flyover bridge as well as two pedestrian bridges in Effurun; construction of a flyover bridge at PTI Junction, along the Effurun-Patani (East/West) Highway; and the construction of a flyover at the DSC roundabout.
The governor said: “[The] strategic projects are aimed at solving the gridlock often experienced between the Effurun roundabout, through PTI Road junction, and DSC roundabout on the Effurun/Patani (East/West) Highway at Effurun.
“They will also ease vehicular movement at the stretch from Enerhen Junction, Effurun, to Marine Gate, Warri.”
APC, however, raised the alarm that the multi-billion-naira flyover project is not only a ruse but a conduit pipe to fleece Delta of over N50 billion.
A press statement signed by the party’s publicity secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, in Asaba, noted that it was impossible for three flyovers, which are not up to 1,500 metres, and the expansion of the NPA-DSC expressway, from the Effurun roundabout, to cost up to N79 billion.
Onojeghuo accused Oborevwori’s administration of continuing the fraud that his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, visited upon the state economy for eight years.
