By Samuel Ogude & Patricia Major
Deltans have decried the slow pace of the construction of convert work that is ongoing along Airport Road by Edjaba Junction and Okere Road Warri in Warri South Local Government Area of the state, saying, this has caused a lot accidents, apart from the hardships on the people because of traffic jam. Many of the respondents expressed their worry in an interview with Bailout Magazine over the delay of the projects.
According to them, they wonder what would cause a delay to such projects which ordinarily would not take more than a month before completion considering the importance of the roads for users. A lady who identified herself as Ameachi said, she wondered why the construction of convert along airport road would take almost three to four months saying, that has caused untold hardships on the part of the tricyclists and motorists.
Another respondent who did not want his name in print said, the delay in the completion of roads has caused a lot of accidents. He said:” The roads completion has delayed for too long, vehicles fall into the (pointing) gutters, most often. Another response said:” the government should be fast about the roads to enable them fit for use by motorists”.
Yet, another respondent said, the government is not trying at all saying; he does not know what it is waiting for before it completes the roads. He said:” Our government is not trying at all, I don’t know what the government is waiting for before it can complete the projects: the action of the state government is making Deltans to pass through stress”.
Another respondent called Jean said, the roads have been bad for a long time now just as she said, there are no caution signs for motorists to show that the roads are undergoing repairs. According to her, two days ago, she saw a car that fell into the gutter adding, the delay is to the detriment of road users. She stressed, as citizens , they need access roads adding, such a delay has led to road users to spend long hours than necessary on the roads before getting to their destinations . She condemned the attitude of the contracting firm not have put anybody on ground to control the traffic and therefore appealed to the state government to complete the roads to alleviate the sufferings of the citizens.
She said:” I appeal to the state government to act fast on roads to save lives and property”. All efforts to reach the management of the contracting firm to know the cause of this delay proved abortive as the Manager was not on sight when Bailout Magazine visited . One Supervisor seen on the site said, he was not competent to comment on the issue.
Recall that the Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa went on projects inspection across the state this week where he noticed that many of the projects are completed while others are yet to be completed. While he lauded efforts of the contractors who done well, he called for the repudiation of the contracts which fall below performance.
In Warri, for instance, he visited many project sites especially drainages to see the level of completion. Among the areas visited is First Marine Gate, among others. This, he did, to ensure that all projects are completed in the state before he finally leaves office.
The Governor used occasion to commission Warri South Local Government lodge which was built by Warri South Local Government Chairman, Dr. Michael Tidi just as he lauded of Warri South Council for a job well done in this regard and urged other Council Chairmen to copy from him.