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The Delta State Government has dismissed criticisms of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration contained in a recent article titled “Beyond Concrete: When Contracts Replace Governance in Oborevwori’s Delta,” describing the publication as an opinion piece founded on conjecture, selective omissions and misleading assumptions.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, said the Oborevwori administration had, within three years, delivered significant achievements across key sectors through the implementation of its MORE Agenda.

Ahon rejected claims that the government was excessively focused on infrastructure development, insisting that the administration had adopted a balanced approach that encompasses education, healthcare, economic empowerment, rural transformation, environmental sustainability and security.

According to him, one of the administration’s major achievements is its ability to execute numerous projects without resorting to borrowing, noting that prudent resource management had earned Delta State recognition as one of the country’s best-managed sub-national governments.

Defending the government’s infrastructure drive, Ahon argued that roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, flood-control facilities and security infrastructure were critical components of economic development rather than mere construction projects.

He listed major projects undertaken by the administration to include the PTI Junction, DSC Roundabout, Enerhen Junction, Otovwodo and Agbor flyovers, as well as the Trans-Warri Road and Bridges project, Ayakoromo Bridge, Kwale-Beneku Bridge and several urban and rural road projects across the state’s three senatorial districts.

The Governor’s spokesman also highlighted ongoing flood-control and drainage projects in vulnerable communities, alongside urban renewal initiatives in Asaba, Warri, Ughelli, Sapele and other towns aimed at improving living conditions and attracting private investment.

In the health sector, Ahon said the administration had invested substantially in modern medical equipment, including CT scan machines, MRI facilities, dialysis machines and 25 state-of-the-art 4D ultrasound scanners distributed across local government areas.

He disclosed that more than 150 primary healthcare centres were currently undergoing renovation and upgrading, while investments in healthcare infrastructure and personnel continued across the state.

Ahon further revealed that a new College of Health Technology had been constructed in Ovrode, while a Faculty of Medical Sciences building had been completed at Southern Delta University, Ozoro.

On education, he said the government had recruited thousands of teaching and non-teaching staff to strengthen learning outcomes in public schools, while upgrading educational facilities and revitalising technical education to equip young people with practical skills.

The statement also highlighted various social intervention and entrepreneurship programmes, including D-CARES, MORE Grants, MORE Biz-Up, WESAP and the Working Fingers Initiative, which Ahon said had empowered hundreds of thousands of residents through financial support, vocational training and business development opportunities.

He dismissed allegations that agriculture had been neglected, maintaining that the administration continued to support farmers through extension services, agricultural inputs, rural access roads and other programmes designed to boost food production and improve livelihoods.

According to him, the government’s commitment to rural transformation is evident in the provision of roads, bridges, schools, healthcare facilities, water projects and electrification schemes in underserved communities, including riverine areas.

Ahon added that several urban and rural water supply projects had been rehabilitated and expanded to improve access to potable water and enhance public health outcomes.

Responding to criticisms over the proposed construction of police divisional headquarters in the 25 local government areas in preparation for state policing, the Governor’s spokesman described the initiative as a strategic investment in the state’s security architecture.

He argued that although policing remains under the exclusive control of the Federal Government, state governments have historically supported security agencies through the provision of infrastructure and operational assistance.

“The benefits of improved security accrue directly to Deltans, their businesses, farms and communities. A secure environment attracts investment, promotes commerce and enhances the wellbeing of citizens,” Ahon stated.

He maintained that the administration had recorded measurable progress across all sectors and stressed that development should be judged by its impact on citizens rather than commentary.

According to him, visible improvements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, water supply, security and economic empowerment across urban and rural communities demonstrate that Governor Oborevwori is fulfilling his campaign promises under the MORE Agenda.

Ahon reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to sustainable development, inclusive opportunities, realistic reforms and enhanced peace and security, assuring that the government would remain focused on advancing the transformation of Delta State.