Ikpide Road Project: Community Applauds Standard Of work

By Kelvin Ohoror

The people of Ikpide-Irri community in Isoko South local government area of Delta State have applauded the standard of work so far on the Ikpide-Irri road project.

The people stated this during a solidarity march round the entire community, displaying placards with inscriptions such as “Governor Ifeanyi Okowa we thank you for Ikpide-Irri road project”, God bless Governor Okowa,” Ikpide-Irri road is on course” , “High Chief Immanuel Omoefe we appreciate you”.

The solidarity march was as a result of series of protests by some indigenes of the community who alleged that the contractor is doing a shoddy job despite the reviewed of the contract by the Delta State government.

The Ikpide-Irri concrete pavement road project was awarded to Portplus Limited, a Lagos based marine service company owned by an indigene of the community.

Speaking to newsmen during the solidarity march, the President General of Ikpide-Irri community Engr. Lucky Edemo stated that, “We have no problem with the road project, the project is on going and we have been enjoying the services for the past two years, he stated.

“All the section that has been completed are motorable, we have trailers and tankers that has been plying the road without problem.

Engr. Edemo also said that the alleged sub-standard project is in the imagination of those people, what they are saying is not the reality on ground.

He lauded the state governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for remembering and lifting a very small community like Ikpide-Irri.

Also speaking a prominent Chief in the community Chief Pius Otolo stated that, “It is only God that gives us this road project, we appreciates the effort of the governor and our High Chief Immanuel Omoefe.

“We don’t have oil, we don’t have any means of generating revenue for the state but they consider us and they gave us this road project.

He noted that, is only God Almighty that will reward those who are finding fault, stating that the is better than some NDDC projects in neighbouring communities around them.

Hon. Humphrey Odi a councillor representing Irri ward eleven who is from the community also said that, “There are chains of blackmail from some group of persons because they have personal vendetta with the contractor handling the project as a result they took the road issue to the media.

“According to him “The community as result decided to come together in solidarity to tell the entire world that what has been trending in the media is not the reality on ground.

“The contractor is doing a good job, the job is standard, if you go round the neighbouring riverrine communities and see the roads been constructed you will find out this project is the best.

The site Engineer and surveyor, Mr. Iyke Chidindu said, “The Delta State government gave us the standard procedure to follow in constructing this road as specified in the BOQ and we have not deviated.

“We have a specific cubic that is given to us, and the re-enforcement they gave us a standard spacing which we will are maintaining in all our re-enforcement.

He noted that, the Ministry of work Delta State came recently to inspect the project, they said the project is okay and they have not complain of anything.