Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Works has expressed optimism that the One Hundred and Eleven point four billion naira budgetary allocation for the ministry of works in the 2023 State Budget, will further consolidate the gains of the Okowa’s administration in the sector.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon Emeka Nwaobi stated this when officials of the ministry, led by Commissioner, Urban and Highways, Mr Noel Omodion and his counterpart in Rural and Riverine Roads, Solomon Golley, appeared before members to defend the proposed budget sum, which is the highest when compared to other sectoral allocations.
The lawmaker, Hon Emeka Nwaobi, explained that the amount budgeted for the ministry of works was a welcome development as the state government was determined to complete all ongoing projects under the supervision of the ministry of works.
Hon Nwaobi, flanked by other members of the committee, including Honorables Oboro Preyor, Solomon Ighrakpata, Anthony Elekeokwuri, Guwor Emomotimi, Mathew Opuoru and Ebipade Pullah, commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s strides in enhancing road infrastructure in the state.
While promising sustained collaboration of the Committee with the ministry, the Lawmaker who represents Aniocha North constituency urged the officials to work hard to deliver government promises in the sector before the end of the administration.
Presenting the scorecard of the ministry of works in the outgoing 2022 fiscal year, the Commissioner, Urban and Highways, Mr Noel Omodion, said the ministry recorded 58% budget performance as of the end of last month October.
Mr Omodion disclosed that since the advent of the Okowa’s administration in 2015, the ministry has handled a total of 748 Civil Engineering projects including highways, urban and rural roads, drainage structures, bridges and rehabilitation and maintenance, valued over six hundred and sixty-four point seven billion naira.
He said the records cover one thousand, seven hundred and fifty-three point eight seven kilometres of road and one thousand, and forty-five point seven three kilometres of drainage channels.
The Works Commissioner disclosed that the main thrust of the 2023 budget was the completion of ongoing projects, funding of the big projects that will span beyond 2023 because of their sizes as well as substantial payments of outstanding and retention bills for completed projects.
Mr Omodion explained that the One Hundred and Eleven point four billion naira budgetary provisions of the capital estimates cover the Economic and Environment sectors as well as Transport, Sewerage and Drainage, and Urban and Regional Planning sub-sectors.
Speaking further in an interview alongside his counterpart in charge of Rural and Riverine Roads, Solomon Golley, Omodion said several road projects embarked upon by the Okowa’s government in the three senatorial districts of the state will be vigorously pursued to completion.
The Commissioners emphasized that the deliberate attempt to channel funds towards the completion of ongoing projects was to actualize the Stronger Delta Agenda of the state government.
