“Chop i Chop Roads”: Delta APC Berates Governor Okowa Over Poor Quality of Road Construction

The main opposition party in Delta State, All Progressives Congress (APC), has criticized the Governor Okowa-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government on the poor quality of  work  on road projects in some parts of the state.

The party in a Statement on 19th February, 2021, signed by its Caretaker Publicity Secretary, Mr Sylvester Imonina, Esq., described some of the road construction and rehabilitation projects as “chop i chop roads”,  urging Deltans to always demand bill of quantity of projects (roads) being executed in their domain.

The APC statement as obtained reads below:

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State has taken a swipe at Govr. Ifeanyi Okowa’s led government, for what it describes as “chop i chop roads” being executed in some parts of the State.

The Party also viewed as  unconscionable, the standard of roads being constructed by the State Government. It is disheartening, immoral and criminal of the State Government to award/attached humongous amounts to roads’ projects yet the quality of the roads are far cry from the funds allocated.

The Party decried the quality of work on the recently rehabilitated Orhuwhorun road in Udu Local Government Area of the State. The Party noted with displeasure that the road is already collapsing due to bad engineering works, when rains are yet to start.

The State chapter of the Party further expressed shock over the recently constructed Okpe-Isoko/Orie/Ofagbe Road in Isoko area. Excavation was not carried out. It was only graded, sand poured on it and asphalted. The said road which is supposed to have several culverts because of its topography/swampy nature had none on it. The road which is less than two inches thick is now riddled with potholes because of poor job by the contractors that handled same. In fact, the road is an eyesore! This might not be unconnected with “kick back and kick front” that the government is known for.

Another source of embarrassment to Deltans is the Effurun/Sapele Road in Uvwie Local Government Area of the State. For the past fifteen years, the less than ten kilometres road has been under construction. The said road has become an “osusu” to every PDP led Government in the State, year in year out! More worrisome is the fact that any rehabilitated section of the road does not survive the vagaries of weather for one year.

Otokutu main road in Ughelli South Local Government Area is another poorly done job. The road is a product of “my Oga dey Asaba to protect, nothing dey happen”, irrespective of the substandard nature of it. Some persons see that road as their yearly source of income. As a result, quality is thrown to the dustbin whenever the road is  constructed and/or rehabilitated!

The Party wonders if the State Government is ready to change from its callous disposition towards the good of Deltans. Why are Deltans so unlucky when it comes to governance of the State!

Since the State Government cannot guarantee Deltans quality roads that can stand the test of time, Delta APC calls on Deltans to always demand for bill of quantity of projects (roads) being executed in their domain. Deltans should take their destiny in their hands and demand for the best, as Deltans are not conquered people.