Delta State Government, having mobilised contractors handling its various projects across the state, has called on them to ensure prompt and quality delivery.

The State Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr Charles Aniagwu, made the call on Friday, in Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area of the state while addressing journalists after inspecting projects in the area.

The projects inspected included the newly awarded Benin Road, Old Amukpe Road with a spur to Ayemidejor Close in Sapele, the Oviri-Okpe ? Orerokpe Road and Ezesi Road, Orerokpe.

The Commissioner, who was in company of the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Engr. Gabriel Fuludu and the Director, Rural Roads Engr Solomon Aghagba, said the State Government had mobilised the contractors to the tune of between 30 and 40 percent of the contract sums to enable them deliver quickly on the projects in view of price fluctuations in the economy.

He called on the contractors to ensure they deliver quality projects for the people to have commensurate value for their money.

Aniagwu said: "As we are handing over these sites to the different contractors, we are appealing that they give us quality jobs and on good speed.

"We are not going to compromise on these two demands. We need quality jobs because the Governor expects that the money of Deltans works for Deltans.

"Secondly, we need speed because of the fluctuations in our economy and the currency will not wait for anybody. We don't want any contractor to receive an award letter and go home waiting for price variation.

"We will not tolerate that and that is why we have also been able to mobilise the contractors for as much as 40 percent in some cases, such that the moment they get their award letters, they proceed to site and hit the ground running.

"It will no longer be tolerated where contractors will be seeking variation because of economic fluctuations, hence while we are emphasizing speed, we are not going to sacrifice the quality of jobs on the altar of that speed.

"We have had cause to inspect roads we are constructing in Sapele spanning 15km, with 13.7km under our direct supervision, and we have impressed it on the contractors to move with the desired speed.

"Governor Oborevwori will not award jobs to companies because they have godfathers but because they have been technically qualified to handle such jobs.

"He will award more jobs to contractors who are able to meet up with quality and speed because he believes that the money is for Deltans and it must work for them."

On the Benin Road in Sapele, Aniagwu said two major buildings would be demolished from the right of way, adding that the state government would compensate the owners.

His words, "in compensating the property owners, the government is just being humane: otherwise, the buildings were recklessly erected along the right of way.

"How do you just wake up and build a house in the middle of a road? But because we want to be humane, that is why we are considering compensating them; ordinarily, those buildings do not qualify for compensation.

"We don't want to put people in hardship in this trying period, and our valuers have interacted with the property owners and they have reached a certain compromise".

At the 15.75km Oviri-Okpe ? Orerokpe Road, Aniagwu lauded the contractor for the speed and quality of jobs done, especially in regulating failed portions of the road to enable commuters to make use of it, without much hindrance during the pendency of construction.

?PHOTO: Delta State Commissioner for Works [Rural and Riverine Roads], Mr. Charles Aniagwu (left), making an observation when he inspected a drain at Ezesi road in Okpe LGA. With him are, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr. Fuludu Gabriel (right), a Director, Engr. Aragba Solomon (2nd left), and the Zonal Engineer of the Ministry, Engr. Kporon Aurah during the inspection on Friday. PHOTO: Enarusai Bripin.