Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed disappointment over the slow pace of work at the Technical College, Irri, in Isoko South Local Government Area, describing the seven-year delay in completing the project as “a shame.”
The governor made the remarks on Monday during an unscheduled inspection of the project site, where he assessed the level of work and questioned the contractor’s commitment to delivering the long-delayed facility.
The project, which was awarded in 2019, is yet to be completed despite repeated assurances, a situation Oborevwori said was unacceptable.
Speaking with journalists after touring the site, the governor said he was unconvinced by claims that the project would be ready by August, noting that several critical components of the work had not even begun.
“I spoke with the commissioner and he told me he had reached out to the contractor, who said the project would be completed by August. But from what I have seen here, I am not sure that timeline is realistic,” Oborevwori said.
“The workshop has not even started. The landscaping will also take some time, and some sections of the roofing are still incomplete. What you see in front is different from what is behind the buildings, so I decided to inspect the entire project.”
The governor lamented that the project had remained unfinished years after it was awarded, stressing that the situation reflected poorly on those responsible for its execution.
“I am not satisfied with what I have seen. The project was awarded in 2019, and it is a shame that after seven years it is still not completed. The question is, what is holding the contractor back?” he asked.
“If people are serious about a project, you will see them actively working on site. That was not the case here. I did not even find the contractor or workers on site. I am not satisfied with the work.”
Oborevwori announced that he would summon both the contractor and the project consultant to explain the prolonged delay, blaming poor supervision for the slow progress.
According to him, the consultant failed in the responsibility of keeping the government informed about the status of the project and ensuring quality supervision throughout its execution.
“I will invite the contractor and the consultant because the consultant is not doing enough. The consultant is supposed to keep the client informed about the progress of work and ensure proper supervision. From what I have seen, the supervision is very poor and I am not satisfied,” he said.
The governor disclosed that he had hoped the Technical College would begin admitting students by September, but the continued delay had made that target unattainable.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that contractors handling public projects deliver quality work within approved timelines, warning that delayed and abandoned projects would no longer be tolerated.
Oborevwori was received at the project site by the Chairman of Isoko South Local Government Council, Hon. Warri Ovoke Friday; the Odio-Ologbo of Irri Kingdom, HRM Simon Wajutome Odhomo, Igbogidi I; and former President-General of the Isoko Development Union, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, during the inspection visit.