Consequently, Oborevwori has directed the state ministries of Housing, Works and Lands to identify and pull down all such buildings to allow for the free flow of water on natural waterways.
The governor gave the orders on Monday 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, “We started the inspection with Phase ll of the stormwater drainage project being handled by CCECC. They have five catchment areas. We have looked at their work 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 waterways, 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 waterways, both in phase l and phase ll, will be brought down by the state government to enable them to 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 1 of the project, there are a lot of buildings on the waterways 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 waterways can be brought down to enable the construction firm have unfettered access to do their work.”
Oborevwori, who also visited the Warri City Stadium, expressed dissatisfaction with the work being done by the contractor, saying he would study the contract to ensure prompt and quality delivery of the project.
“I came here to see what the contractor handling the project has done and l am not too satisfied with what the contractor has done,” he stated pointedly.
He remarked that some of the areas that are not properly scoped will be rescoped as, according to him, “we want the best for Warri and this is the Warri City Stadium.”
Governor Oborevwori later paid an inspection visit to the stormwater control projects in the area, during which residents of 1st Marine Gate in Warri, Warri South Local Government Area, burst into jubilation as he approved the provision of a brand new transformer for the community.
He gave the approval, assuring that the transformer would be delivered to the area through the council chairman in two weeks, following community complaints of over two years of power outages in the area.
Speaking to journalists in Warri, Oborevwori said, “I actually went there for inspection and the residents said they have transformer challenge and a transformer is something we can actually order.
“I assured them that within two weeks they would get the transformer delivered to them through the Warri South Council Chairman”.
Residents of the locality, who could not hide their joy, expressed gratitude to Governor Oborevwori for being sensitive to their plight and prayed to God to continue to use him to do greater things for the people of the State.
Also speaking on the development, the Chairman of Warri South Local Government Council, Dr Michael Tidi lauded Governor Oborevwori for the transformer donation and commended him for the renewed vigour to transform Warri and its environs.
