By Austin Ogwuda
Delta State Governor, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has ordered the demolition of all buildings erected along waterways in the State.
He gave the order during an inspection tour of Phases I and II of the Warri/Effurun Storm Water Control Projects in Warri South and Uvwie local government areas of the State.
He said there is no place in the world where people were allowed to erect buildings on waterways.
He has therefore directed the Ministries of Housing, Works, and Lands to identify and pull down such buildings to enable free flow of water on natural water ways.
His words, “we started the inspection with Phase ll of the storm water drainage project being handled by CCECC.
“They have five catchment areas. We have looked at their works and realised that they have done a lot as they have gone very far.
“They have some obstacles and we also looked at what is causing the obstacles and got to know that there are some buildings on natural water ways, which is causing obstructions and slowing down the spate of work being done by the construction firm.
“We also assured the contractors that all the buildings on the water ways, both in phase l and phase ll, will be brought down by the State Government to enable them finish their work seamlessly.
“They have assured us that they need 21 days for some of the areas they have opened, that are causing gridlock, to be properly fixed and the drainage crossing Airport Road by Fani Kayode was cast on Saturday and they need about 19 days for that area to be fixed also.
“On Phase l of the project”, he went on, “there are a lot of buildings on the water ways and l have called on the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Housing and Works to liaise with the Ministry of Lands to see how those buildings on water ways can be brought down to enable the construction firm have unfettered access to do their work”.
At Warri City Stadium, the Governor expressed dissatisfaction with the work done by the contractor.
According to him “l came here to see what the contractor handling the project has done and l am not too satisfied with what the contractor has done.
“But the contractor said what they are doing is according to the scope of the contract awarded to them. So, we are going to look at the contract and see what can be done to ensure speedy and quality delivery of the project.
“Some of the areas that are not properly scoped will be redone. We want the best for Warri and this is the Warri City Stadium,” he stated.
Recall that the governor had last week vowed that he would not be in a hurry to commission any project not delivered according to specifications or shoddily executed under his watch.