Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has defended the multi-billion naira flyover and road infrastructure projects currently underway in Warri and Effurun, describing them as vital long-term investments for the state’s economic growth and urban development.
His response follows criticism from Chief Wilson Omene, former Ethiope West Local Government Chairman and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had earlier dismissed the projects as “ill-informed and misleading.”
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, Oborevwori emphasized that the infrastructure developments were aimed at easing traffic congestion and promoting business activities in the state’s urban centres.
“The flyovers, road expansions and sleepway interchange are not cosmetic. They are long-term investments in urban mobility, ease of doing business, and economic growth,” the statement read.
The governor further explained that Warri and Effurun serve as strategic gateways connecting the ports, industries, and the hinterland, adding that the ongoing projects are designed to unlock commercial potential and attract private-sector investments.
“These are gateway cities connecting the ports, industries, and the hinterland. The projects are unlocking commercial potential and creating an enabling environment for further private-sector participation. Perhaps, Chief Wilson Omene may have to check the meaning of enabling business environment.”
Oborevwori insisted that only those out of touch with modern urban planning would question the necessity of the projects, highlighting the Warri-Effurun corridor’s role in Delta’s economy and its rapidly growing population.
Responding to Omene’s suggestion that the funds would have been better spent establishing industries in Delta Central, the governor described the argument as “narrow-minded and sectional.”
“Delta State is bigger than any single senatorial district. The M.O.R.E agenda—Meaningful Development, Opportunities for All, Realistic Reforms, and Enhanced Peace and Security, is being implemented equitably across Delta North, Delta Central, and Delta South. No part of the state has been left behind,” the statement noted.
The statement also touched on Oborevwori’s recent defection to the APC, which has drawn both attention and criticism.
Ahon clarified that the move was not driven by personal ambition but by the desire to attract federal collaboration for the benefit of the state.
“Governor Oborevwori’s alignment with the APC was not for personal benefit but to synergise with the Federal Government in delivering more dividends of democracy to Deltans.
Chief Wilson Omene is merely acting out a script written by those who view the governor’s move as a threat to their political interests.”
Sir Ahon concluded by urging critics to embrace constructive dialogue rooted in facts and reaffirmed the Oborevwori administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and sustainable development.
“Constructive criticism is welcome, but it must be rooted in facts and guided by a sincere desire to move Delta State forward,” he stated.
