Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has expressed strong displeasure over the prolonged delay in the completion of the Technical College, Irri, in Isoko South Local Government Area, summoning the contractor and project consultant to explain why the project remains unfinished seven years after it was awarded.
The governor voiced his dissatisfaction on Monday during an unscheduled inspection of the project site, where he described the pace of work as unacceptable and blamed the delay on poor supervision and the apparent lack of commitment by those handling the project.
The Technical College project, awarded in 2019, was expected to strengthen technical and vocational education in Delta State. However, despite years of construction, the project is yet to be completed.
Governor Oborevwori, who was received at the 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 (IDU), High Chief Iduh Amadhe, said he was unconvinced by assurances that the project would be delivered by August this year.
Speaking with journalists after inspecting the facility, the governor said the level of work done did not support the contractor’s proposed completion timeline.
“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.
He noted that major components of the project, including the workshop and landscaping, had not commenced, while parts of the roofing were still incomplete.
“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,” he stated.
Expressing disappointment over the prolonged delay, the governor described it as unacceptable that a project awarded in 2019 was still incomplete after seven years.
“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 queried.
Oborevwori further lamented that neither the contractor nor construction workers were present during his visit, saying their absence reflected a lack of seriousness.
“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,” he added.
The governor announced that both the contractor and the consultant would be invited to account for the delay, stressing that the consultant had failed in the responsibility of providing effective supervision and keeping the government adequately informed on the project’s progress.
“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.
He regretted that the prolonged delay had disrupted his administration’s plan to commence academic activities at the institution by September, saying the project should have been completed long before now.
Governor Oborevwori reaffirmed 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.
He stressed that every contractor engaged by the state government would be held accountable for performance, adding that his administration remained committed to delivering projects that directly improve the lives of Deltans.
