The Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has given affirmation that the ongoing construction of the Koka flyover and interchange in Asaba, the state capital will be completed before the end of 2022.
The governor said he will work with the contractors to ensure its early completion after inspecting the project on Wednesday, January 19, 2022.
According to the governor, he said “The contractors started work here a few weeks ago and with the explanations, we have gotten, a lot of work is already being done,” he said.
“One good thing about the contracting firm, CCECC, is that it tries to work ahead of time because we can see the drilling work going on and the workers are also casting the beams already.
“We are told that they have cast 30 out of the 96 beams that they required and they have already drilled 16 of the piles that they are supposed to drill and that means that work is progressing.
“They have given us January 2023 delivery date, but I have also told them that am not comfortable with that because I would like to have the project inaugurated during my time.
“January 2023, there will be a lot of campaigns and we may not have time to talk about the inauguration of projects; so, we are trying to work up a process that will enable them to work day and night to fast track the project.
“I believe that with the quality and capacity of the contractors, they can finish the interchange in this year so that it does not spill over into next year.
“The dualization coming from Ogwashi-Uku to Ibusa and Asaba will be completed in the next few months and it will put pressure on this interchange; so, there is the need to ensure an early finish so that we don’t have a chaotic situation here.”
“All our projects, including this one, are very dear to me and we will continue to inspect more projects. One good thing about the inspection of projects is that it gives you first-hand knowledge of what is being done and you can ask questions from both the ministries and the contractors and they can give you timelines and what they hope to achieve.
“So, indirectly, I am also putting both the contractor and the ministry under pressure to finish on time, but finish with quality work and that is the first and most important thing to me.”
“While I play politics, I will not forget that Deltans voted me to serve them; so, until the very last day of 28th of May, 2023, I will focus on that aspect of service to the people, I will not allow politics to distract me.”
He also thanked the contractors for the job done so far while hoping that they would speed up to make up for any lost time during the yuletide.
Okowa said his administration would stay on course to ensure that the project was inaugurated within the year.
Recall last year, the state government began the construction of the flyover along the Benin-Onitsha Expressway to reduce traffic jams along the Koka Junction of the road.
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