With Delta state accelerating its pace of infrastructure development, OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE, highlights Governor Sheriff Oborevwori prudent financial management strategy in a bid for value for money and drive the local economy.

Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has continued to bask in the warm afterglow of national media spotlight on the back of a string of accolades from diverse groups, recognising his strides in infrastructure development, bestowed on him “Governor of the 2024 Award”.

The dust, on the prestigious THISDAY/Arise Media Group for fiscal discipline and infrastructural development of the state held last year in Lagos, had hardly died down, when, yet another news outfit, New Telegraph, honoured him for his commitment to the development of the state’s infrastructure.

Two other groups, National Association of Delta State Students in conjunction with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) followed in their footsteps, by presenting him with a Merit Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the educational sector.

NADESSTU President, Monday Wiska, said the award celebrates Governor Oborevwori’s achievements, including approval for year 2023 and 2024 bursary payment to 30,116 and 32,028 students respectively.

Wiska also listed enhanced access to quality education, improved infrastructure in schools, and promotion of educational reforms that support student’s development as other reasons for the award.


Despite delivering so much at frightening pace, Oborevwori has promised to do even “more”, in clear alignment with the overarching mission of his M.O.R.E agenda, a social contract he entered into with Deltans upon assumption of office in 2023.

The State Commissioner for Works( Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu Mr Aniagwu said the state government had not borrowed a dime and had paid loans obtained by previous administrations to the tune of N240billion.

He said, “First of all not only that Delta is not borrowing under the Oborevwori administration, he has paid over N240 billion in the last 20 months to service or defray existing contractual obligations as well as some other funds that came in form of loan in the past.


“So for you to know that he is not only just funding infrastructure today I’m not too sure you have heard of anybody going to the streets to protest that they have not been paid pension.

“Oborevwori’s prudence is such that he works hard to properly preserve government funds for the good people of the state, by cutting off a whole lot of things that could have led to wastages.

“For instance there was another novel approach he brought to prudence and financial management where he proposed a reduction in the profit margin for some contracts upon 40 percent mobilisation.


“He argued that since the state usually provide contractors 40% mobilization, we are first of all saving them the agony of raising cost of funds should they have proceeded to go to any financial institution to ask for such funds.

“When we looked at these parameters from just about five different memos, we were able to save N4.5 billion, yet the contractors were still very much interested in carrying out such projects.”

He attributed the state’s solvency to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s financial management abilities which he said is “anchored on fiscal discipline, prudence and accountability”.

Mr. Charles Aniagwu who spoke in an interview on a live television programme monitored in Asaba, said Governor Oborevwori’s greatest asset was being underrated, adding that by his governance philosophy, the Governor had continued to confound his critics with tangible proofs and accolades across the state and country.

According to him, Governor Oborevwori is likened to that book that almost everybody judged by its cover and by the time they attempted to open the book they discovered that it’s not written in French language but in pure English.

“All the facts that you need to know about certain things that you thought are not possibly available in that book are all put together in that book.

“One of Oborevwori’s greatest assets is the fact that he is underrated, his financial management abilities is almost second to none.

“Let me inform you that even as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly for six years at the end of his tenure he returned N500 million unspent funds to the state coffers so when you look at the story of people who are usually there as politicians in different levels you will understand what that means.

“When we thought that was a flash in the pan that maybe it was just one of those things but we didn’t know that that is his pure characteristics and leadership style.

“When we say that Delta today is solvent we are not solvent because we contracted a native doctor to help us preserve our funds.

“We are solvent because Oborevwori is demonstrating a whole lot of accountability and prudence in the management of our resources.

“Two weeks ago when we had our first EXCO meeting for the year 2025 we approved projects worth over N275 billion naira. Not only that we approved those projects, the governor was also magnanimous for us to proceed to mobilize each of the contractors wit 40 percent of the contract sum.

“We have been doing that since he came in and that is why you can see that a number of these projects are moving with speed.

“Beyond the issue of giving out this 40%, there are a number of projects that are on Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO), where in which case every month, certain amount of funds kicks in.

“The moment you present your certificate in terms of milestones, the state pays.”

Aniagwu further said Oborevwori was carrying out the projects across the three senatorial districts without sentiments.


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“There are so many things that he has done in terms of taking on big projects, in terms of carrying the three senatorial districts, irrespective of ethnic differences, along.

“Of course, Delta is a multi-ethnic state. Irrespective of even political affiliation, he’s carrying everybody along. That is why you see that even when the few pockets of opposition speak to certain issues that are at variance with reality, Oborevwori doesn’t waste time responding to those issues.

“He only concentrates more on the projects as a means of response to those criticisms and today, all we ask people is, tell us your local government and then we will tell you what Oborevwori is doing there.”

He said Governor Oborevwori introduced a novel approach to the budget that was equitable, fair and just, adding” the Governor was able to come up with a novel idea in our budgeting approach and good enough, my ministry was saddled with that responsibility of implementing certain funds across the 25 local government areas.

“In 2024, we provided one billion for roads alone and that is a specific intervention, because that is not the only amount we provided, but for specific intervention so that even if you don’t have a big man or you don’t have anybody speaking for your local government, that fund is there and must be spent in your local government.

“Having seen the magic in terms of the level of infrastructure we are able to implement using that model, in the 2025 budget, Governor Oborevwori directed that over N2.1 billion should be provided for the purpose of short intervention across the local government areas.

“It might interest you to note that even the EXCO we had less than two weeks ago, we approved projects across more than 80% of the local governments in Delta, in one EXCO.

“So anybody who wakes up and says they have no idea of what we are doing, we don’t even need to say what are you talking about.

“We say please, can you tell us your local government so let us even know whether you are among those who don’t visit home.”

Despite the flurry of construction activities across the state, Gov Oborevwori has prioritised some legacy projects.

These include but not limited to the N78 billion contract for the construction of three flyovers, a cloverleaf, pedestrian bridges and ancillary road expansion projects in the oil-rich Effurun and Warri metropolis, completion of Ughelli- Asaba Dualization project, Trans Ode Itsekiri Bridge project, remodeling of the Warri Township stadium and Asaba Waterfront City.

During an inspection, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, said the project was conceived by the previous administration through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Model.

He said the state government’s role was to construct a 6-lane access road to the new city, while the developers were expected to reclaim the land and develop the city.

He said: “Asaba is becoming very attractive to property developers who are coming from Lagos to Asaba because Asaba today is housing most of those people from the South-East.

“They are coming here because they find Asaba very comfortable and they know that we are also hospitable.

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“The Asaba waterfront city project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement between the state government and the developers.

“Our obligation is to reclaim the place to give them an access route, a six-lane access road, to this place. They have done about 20 percent of this job; the challenge they are having is the buildings on the right of way.

“We have released money for compensation to the property owners and we have also released funds to the contractor for the project.

“They have assured us they will complete the road project in July; so, I have come here to look at the work that has been done and I am happy that they are on site.

“If they continue at this speed, I know that before the end of this year, the project will be completed.”

In a bid to combat poor quality and get value for tax payers money, Gov Oborevwori launched a whistle-blowing policy to enable citizens report poor quality and substandard projects delivery in the state.

Speaking through an aide, Oborevwori said: “So today we are launching a new partnership, and a partnership that emphasizes that Deltans do have a role in governance under the Oborevwori administration.

“As part of that demonstration of that invitation to join us in governance and ensure that value for money is given its pride of place in the administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.

“We are launching our whistleblower line and that the line, even before we made it public, is already functional.

“Our whistleblower line is a line that is designed for people to reach out to us. Our people in Delta, we want them to be able to interact with government. If any project in your community is going on and you feel that either the contractor or the supervising ministry is performing below what you see or believe it should be the standard, our whistleblower line is for you to be able to reach out to us.

“You can send text messages, WhatsApp messages and we also encourage pictures and videos if possible.

“We are using it to ensure that our people who are living in their respective communities participate in our governance process so that it is not only the ministry, or the officials of government that will be able to talk to us or talk to the government with respect to projects that are within your community.”


https://thenationonlineng.net/how-oborevwori-executes-project-without-borrowing-curbs-financial-waste/