(DDM) – Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has voiced deep frustration over the slow pace of work at the multi-billion-naira Asaba Waterfront Project.
DDM gathered that the governor, who visited the project site earlier this week, publicly expressed disappointment with the contractors handling the dredging and reclamation works.
He attributed the sluggish progress to the use of small, locally fabricated dredging machines that are incapable of handling the project’s scale and technical demands.
Governor Oborevwori said the state government had met all contractual obligations and paid full compensation to property owners and communities affected by the project’s expansion.
He noted that despite the government’s support, the contractors had failed to deliver measurable progress since the project’s commencement.
The governor emphasized that modern dredging machines with higher capacity were required to fast-track land reclamation and prepare the waterfront for infrastructure development.
According to him, the continued reliance on locally assembled dredgers is prolonging the project unnecessarily and frustrating government efforts to meet development timelines.
He warned that if the situation persists, the Asaba Waterfront Project, conceived as a legacy initiative, could drag on for decades.
Oborevwori urged the contractors to mobilize additional equipment and manpower, stressing that his administration will not tolerate excuses or further delays.
He reminded them that the project remains central to his administration’s MORE Agenda, which focuses on infrastructural expansion, urban renewal, and sustainable economic development.
The governor said the Asaba Waterfront, when completed, will transform the Delta capital into a world-class economic and tourism destination.
He explained that the project would provide investors with modern business spaces, leisure zones, housing estates, and tourism facilities along the River Niger corridor.
Government officials disclosed that the masterplan includes waterfront residential villas, a marina, shopping complexes, green parks, and modern road networks connecting the city centre.
The project is also expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs for Delta youths through construction, real estate, and service-based employment opportunities.
Oborevwori reaffirmed that the Delta State Government has fully paid all compensation and provided logistics for the contractors’ operations.
He also revealed that the project is a major component of the state’s long-term vision to integrate Asaba into the emerging Niger Delta urban corridor stretching from Warri to Onitsha.
Observers say the governor’s remarks reflect mounting pressure from residents who have grown impatient with repeated delays and shifting completion dates.
Analysts note that the Asaba Waterfront Project was initiated during former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s tenure, with Oborevwori pledging to complete and expand its original scope.
Many Deltans view the project as a critical step in positioning Asaba as both a political capital and a thriving economic hub comparable to Uyo or Port Harcourt.
Local business owners along the waterfront area told DDM that delays in construction have disrupted livelihoods, as access roads remain partially blocked.
They appealed to the government to ensure more active supervision of contractors and transparent updates on project milestones.
The governor, in his response, reassured residents that he would personally monitor progress and hold contractors accountable for performance failures.
He vowed that his administration would not allow the project to become another abandoned site or political campaign promise.
Oborevwori concluded by stating that his government’s ultimate goal is to open Asaba to investors and ensure that Delta State stands out as a model of infrastructural transformation in Nigeria’s South-South region.
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