Oleh residents and stakeholders have lamented a case of two shoddy contracts execution of school building renovation and road construction at St. Michael College and Mechanic Village all in Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State by one Kenubane Limited.
At the commencement of the renovation of the dilapidated classrooms building at St. Michael’s College and Interlocking Road at the Mechanic Village, Oleh, awarded by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), the contractors have come under heavy criticisms and wide spread condemnation for shoddy and substandard execution of both contracts.
From the secrecy of the owner of the jobs, to the Bill of Quantity (BOQ) of the project, through the details of contractors ,and other information on the project signboards, to implementing projects different from what was scoped, the entire referenced projects of the DESOPADEC were poorly implemented, despite the allegedly huge amount budgeted for it.
A visit to the school by The Isoko Nation investigation team on Sunday February 23, 2025, met with the Sprayer, one Godspower Egbage from Warri, who claimed to have been hired by a friend whom he declined to name the identity, spraying the reclaimed roofing sheets and facial boards.
Attempts to speak with the Principal one Mrs. Onojerame or officials of the school proved abortive. She insisted that she has not gotten clearance from the Chief Inspector of Education to speak to the press. No other member of staff was also willing to offer any information as our reporters were directed to meet with the community leadership and some illustrious sons of the community whom have been alerted of the disheartening development.
However, an anonymous source who spoke with the reporters regretted such poor performance from the son of the community, saying that “the work is bad, I never knew that roofing sheets are patched, recycled and used for a renovation job”.
“I condemn such poor job execution from the son of the soil, using the fund to build his political empire when the huge funds allocated and allegedly released is not commensurate with the job being executed”
The source emphasised that the government and the awarding institution should come down to see the ongoing shoddy jobs been executed with an unprecedented speed by the contractor, possibility to cover up lapses.
When contacted through WhatsApp message, after series of failed visits to his office, the Chief Inspector of Education (CIE) in isoko South Local Government, Mr. Adeda E. E, declined comment, saying in his response to our inquiry that “With reference to your investigation on the renovation work going on at St. Michael College Oleh. You may wish to visit our headquarters Min of Secondary Education Asaba for further details. I was directed to make some enquiries, which I have reported same to the headquarters. Sorry, by Civil Service rules, I am not empowered to speak on such issues, there are some clear issues that I can handle but not this one because my office does not supervise projects. Thanks”
In a chat with the President General of Oleh community, Mr. Believe Unuafe, he said that “the rumours of the Commissioner Representing Isoko Ethnic Nationality at DESOPADEC, Chief Egbo Victor as the contractor is not correct”.
He however stated that “I acknowledge the bad work and had acosted the Commissioner on the bad contract execution and according to him, has ordered that the refurbished roof be replaced”
Findings reveal that the same contractor, Kenubane Limited, handling the St. Michael College, Oleh renovation is the same contractor handling the Mechanic Village interlocking road, Oleh, which is also enmeshed in poor execution complaints.
Speaking to our reporters, the chairman of the Mechanic Village, Mr. Orife George, lamented the poor nature of job execution by the contractor.
He noted the use of dusty sand for filling the road before mounting the interlocking stones, stating that “the work is poorly done, not up to standard in terms of materials and construction regarding inadequate kerbs moulded with inadequate cements”.
He also frown at the skipping of kerbs placements in many portions of the road; use of waste sand from the ongoing Ogbemudia road construction as well as the absence of drainages on both sides of the road.
The Chairman added that he was denied access to the Bill of Quantity for better understanding of the scope of contract, stating that he was challenged by the site engineer, that he was not the one that awarded them the contract.
However, one of the St. Michael College Old students and Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Political Matters, Sir Hon (Chief) Evans Egbo, who spoke to our reporter, condemned the sub standard job being done. He stated further that “I have reached out to the Commissioner representing Isoko Ethnic Nationality in DESOPADEC, Hon. Victor Egbo on the poor job execution, who he quoted to have stated that he has directed the contractor to stop work pending when he will be visiting the site on Monday 10th March, 2025 for on the spot assessment”
Subsequent calls to get across to the Commissioner, Chief Victor Egbo and the Engineer handling the job through their phones several days later after text messages to respond to the plethora of allegations were unanswered and all other efforts as the time of filing this story proved abortive.
Meanwhile, a source close to the Project Inspection Directorate of DESOPADEC, who does not want his name in prints, told The Isoko Nation crew that “what is on ground at both cites are much at variance with the Bill of Quantity of the projects approved”
