The Bayelsa State Government has expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace of work ongoing at the Obogoro shore protection site.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Iselema Gbaranbiri, recently made this known when he paid an unscheduled visit to the project site in Obogoro Community of Yenagoa council area of the State.
Gbaranbiri, who was accompanied on the visit by the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Environment, Mr.Waripamo Martin, stated that the state government would not condone any more delay in carrying out the project.
He stressed that the target date for delivery of the project was long over due, noting that lives and properties were at stake.
According to him, the project earlier was a river training project, but that the government had a change of plan to carry out a shore protection work after due consultations in a bid to proffer lasting solutions to the erosion problems ravaging the community.
He urged the contracting firm not to disappoint the government and directed that the job be done as quickly as possible before the 2023 floods begin in order to prevent further damages.
The Environment Commissioner, who said time was limited for the delivery of the project, also vowed to pay more unannounced visits to supervise the project.
He stated that the contract has suffered a lot of set backs for years, adding that the prosperity administration of Senator Douye Diri wants to see that the work is ongoing 24 hours, while also emphasising that the state government cannot continue to take excuses anymore.
He said, “If the job does not commence within 24hours, government will not hesitate in wielding the big stick”.
ln his response, Mr. Johnson Ogbo, the Project Manager of the contracting firm, Niger Green Dredging International, assured the Commissioner that the job was going to begin in earnest as earlier promised.
The Project Manager added that the job would be carried out according to the project specifications.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa