Asaba, Delta State — The Delta State Directorate of Project Monitoring and Audit has concluded a series of town hall meetings across the three senatorial districts, aimed at strengthening grassroots participation in monitoring government projects and ensuring quality delivery across communities.
The meetings, organised under the directive of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, were designed to encourage residents to take active roles in supervising projects within their areas, while also improving transparency, accountability, and communication between communities, contractors, and government agencies.
Speaking at the final session in Orerokpe, Okpe Local Government Area, Delta Central Senatorial District, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Monitoring and Audit, Engr. Dr Goodnews Agbi, described the statewide exercise as a major success, noting that the Directorate achieved about 80 per cent of its objectives for the 2026 programme.
Agbi expressed satisfaction with the strong turnout and engagement from community leaders, youth groups, and stakeholders who participated actively during the sessions. He emphasised that the meetings would continue in future phases, but hinted that subsequent engagements may be organised at the local government level to reduce travel stress for participants.
He also urged community members to avoid making ambiguous or excessive development fee demands from contractors, warning that such practices could discourage investment and slow down project completion. According to him, cooperation between communities and contractors remains essential for achieving sustainable development outcomes.
The town hall meetings featured expert lectures aimed at equipping communities with practical knowledge on project monitoring and civic engagement. The Managing Director of Contemporary Group Limited, Arch. Kester Ifeadi, delivered a presentation titled “Why Communities Are the Heart of Development,” highlighting the importance of community ownership in development projects.
Similarly, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of Delta State University, Abraka, Engr. Prof. Hilary Owamah, presented a lecture titled “Strengthening Community Participation in Project Monitoring and Supervision: From Policy Intentions to Sustainable Outcomes.” He encouraged residents to act as watchdogs by ensuring projects meet approved standards and timelines.
Speakers at the sessions emphasised that active community involvement helps improve transparency, enhances project security, and ensures that government investments deliver long-term benefits to the people.
In the Delta South Senatorial District, the second phase of the town hall meetings held in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area, featured interactive discussions where youth leaders and community members raised questions about contractor management, project supervision, and community responsibilities during project implementation.
The Vice Chairman of Isoko North LGA, Hon. Barr. Evelyn Aluta, alongside traditional and community leaders, commended Governor Oborevwori and the Directorate for initiating the engagement process. She called for sustained collaboration among communities, local governments, and contractors to ensure that development projects reflect the real needs of residents.
Executive Assistants to the Governor on Project Monitoring and Audit — Blessing Enamuotor, Francis Ighoraye, and Erah — also addressed journalists during the events, explaining that the initiative was created to ensure that communities, as end users of government projects, are actively involved from project conception through execution to completion.
They further advised contractors to adhere strictly to project specifications and timelines, noting that increased community oversight would help reduce delays, promote transparency, and ensure value for public funds.
With the successful completion of the statewide tour, the Directorate says it will continue to build stronger partnerships between government and local communities to guarantee effective project monitoring and improved service delivery across Delta State.
