Contractors Dispute Delta Govt’s World Bank Funding Claims Over Delayed Unpaid Water Projects

…Threaten to stage mass protests

Contractors under the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH/STOWASSA) program in the Delta State Ministry of Water Resources have disputed claims regarding the delay of their long-overdue payments, issuing a stern warning of imminent protests if the state government fails to settle its debts.

In a follow-up statement released on Monday, June 1, 2026, the aggrieved contractors, operating under the aegis of “Concerned Contractors of STOWASSA,” challenged the State government’s explanation that the delays are tied to the non-release of counterpart funding by the World Bank.

According to the contractors, independent verification contradicts the government’s position.

They maintain that the World Bank has already released its portion of the project funds to the Delta State government, a point previously raised in an initial open letter to the Governor on May 15, 2026.

“Contractors entered into legally binding agreements with the Delta State Government, not with the World Bank,” the statement insisted.

“It is therefore unjust for the burden of any funding dispute, administrative delay, or counterpart funding arrangement to be transferred to contractors who have already completed their work.”, they maintained.

The contractors revealed that the affected water projects have been fully inspected, verified, completed, and handed over, with many already serving members of the public for several months.

They also argued that the protracted delay—stretching over two years for some—directly contradicts the Governor’s “MORE Agenda” and his public declarations that the administration is not indebted to contractors.

“If indeed the delay is linked to counterpart funding, we respectfully challenge the relevant authorities to provide a clear and transparent explanation to the public and affected contractors. After more than two years of waiting, contractors deserve facts, not rumours; timelines, not excuses”, the statement read.

The group pointed out the devastating economic and human toll of the prolonged non-payment, stating that local businesses are collapsing, workers are facing layoffs, and contractors are actively losing properties pledged as bank collateral due to mounting monthly interest.

“These are not mere statistics; they are real lives being negatively impacted by prolonged government inaction,” the statement read.

While appealing for the personal intervention of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to resolve the matter in the interest of transparency and justice, the contractors warned that they would be left with no choice but to stage mass protests to demand their rights if the state government fails to provide immediate timelines for payment.