The Delta State Government today announced approval of upward review of the cost of some ongoing projects in the state.
Mr Olisa Ifeajika, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa announced this while briefing journalists at the end of the State Executive Council meeting presided by the governor in Asaba.
Ifeajika explained that the review became necessary sequel to sustained request by contractors who had complained of rising cost of materials and inflationary tendencies in the nation’s economy as well as additional works introduced on the projects.
According to him, the council reached the decision to approve the upward review over the projects to ensure that they were completed as scheduled.
He listed some of the projects as Phase I and Phase II of Flood Control Measures in Uwvie and Effurun, whose values were reviewed from the contract of N7.46billion to N8.4billion and from N7.24 billion to N9.06 billion, respectively.
“In Asaba, the council approved an upward review of the rehabilitation of Onaje Street, Nwanze Street and Kwekeagbo Street by N899.50 million, from N334.99 million to N1.23 billion.
“The access road to Federal Housing Estate in Ugboroke in Uwvie Local Government Area has been reviewed from N525.41million to N656.45 million, and the Ekuku-Agbor and Obi-Agbor roads contract was reviewed upward, from N1.36 billion to N1.60 billion.
“At Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, the construction work at the Faculty of Agriculture got an upward review to the sum of N3.62 billion from initial cost of N1.8 billion, largely due to additional works on the projects and high cost of materials.
“The council also approved the upward review of the contract value for the construction of James Ezechi Street in Okpai in Ndokwa East Local Government Area from the cost of N662.07 million to N799.81 million.
“Also approved, is the replacement of Niki Tobi Road with Esanma Grammar School Road in the contract for the construction of Esanma Grammar School Road and Market Road in Bomadi Local Government Area and its re-appraisal from N506.83 million to N706.21million,” Ifeajika said.
The governor’s spokesman added that the executive council ratified the variation of prices of the contract sum of the flyover at Koka junction, Asaba, on the Asaba-Benin Expressway to a new rate of N10.35 billion from N9.77 billion.
“Also, an upward review of drainage channels in Owa-Alero and its environs from N5.99 billion to N8.08 billion was approved.
“The construction work on the flood control channel by St Patrick’s College, West End Secondary School, Uche Medua Ugeh Close to Amilimocha Stream in Asaba has been reviewed upwards from N3.20 billion to N5.68 billion.
“Also reviewed is the Sector C2 of the Ughelli-Asaba dual carriage way, which went up to N13.56 billion from N12.47billion.
“Exco also reviewed the construction of Oviri-Olomu and Egodor road in Ughelli South and Burutu Local Government Areas by N1.04 billion, from N1.86 billion to N2.91billion,” he said.
Ifeajika further said that Exco gave approval for the re-award of contract for abandoned construction of Udu Harbour Market in Udu, with 600 lock-up stores, police post, bank, administration office, warehouse, borehole, abattoirs, slaughter ground, cattle ranch, external electrification, three gatehouses, generator and four toilets at a total cost of N2.52 billion, including consultancy fee.
