Delta Contractors Drown in Debt, Send Open Letter to Gov Oborevwori Over Delays Payments Since 2024

A group of concerned contractors under the umbrella of STOWASSA, an agency under the Delta State Ministry of Water Resources, has issued an urgent open letter to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, warning of looming financial crises and the collapse of local businesses due to unpaid contractual dues.

Since early 2024, these contractors, who worked tirelessly on water scheme rehabilitation projects across Delta State with funding assistance from the World Bank, have not received payment for their completed work. Despite fulfilling all contractual obligations—mobilizing resources, employing workers, purchasing materials, and delivering projects—their payments remain pending, causing grave economic hardship.

In the letter, the contractors expressed deep disappointment and frustration, revealing that many have exhausted their savings, sold personal properties, and borrowed heavily to keep their businesses afloat, all while awaiting payments that the government has allegedly released funds for. One contractor even risks losing his house after using his building as collateral to finance the project, now unable to service the loan, the letter reads.

“These contractors that worked under the auspices of STOWASSA, an agency under the Ministry of Water Resources, to rehabilitate water schemes across the state assisted by World Bank, mobilized resources, employed workers, purchased materials, paid taxes, and completed assigned projects under the current extremely difficult economic conditions, trusting the integrity and commitment of the Delta State Government.

“Today, many of these same contractors are drowning in debts, most painfully with the knowledge that the monies have already been released by the World Bank to the state coffers and the governor kept saying every where that the government is not owing any contractor in the state”.

“Many of these projects are already serving the public, yet the contractors are left unpaid for months,” said the letter.

“This is unjust and unacceptable. Delta State is not a poor state; it receives significant federal allocations and internally generated revenue. So, why are legitimate contractors being abandoned?”, the letter queried.

The contractors warned that the continued delay in payments erodes public trust, discourages local investment, and threatens the survival of indigenous businesses.

They emphasized that the situation is not just about delayed payments but about justice, accountability, and the livelihoods of families depending on these projects.

“Leadership is measured by promises kept,” the letter stated, adding “We call on Your Excellency to intervene immediately—verify and pay all outstanding debts, publish a transparent payment timeline, and restore confidence in the government’s integrity.”

The group expressed hope that the governor would act swiftly to prevent more businesses from collapsing and more families from suffering avoidable hardships.

“Your Excellency Sir, Delta State is not a poor state. Public records consistently show that Delta State receives enormous allocations from the Federation Account monthly, in addition to internally generated revenue and other federal inflows. We therefore find it difficult to understand why legitimate contractors who have delivered on their responsibilities are being abandoned without payment”, the letter reads.

The letter held that contractors are only demanding what is rightfully theirs—payment for work already delivered for the benefit of Delta residents.