Okorocha accuses NDDC of short-changing Imo

Apparently miffed at the mention that 272 projects were undertaken in the state over the past 16 years, yet these were nowhere on ground in the state, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has accused the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of fraudulently short-changing the state and its people.

Okorocha, while speaking with Ibim Semenitari, the new acting managing director of the NDDC, said he was deeply shocked to hear that billions of naira had been spent on the claimed 272 projects in the state, which he said were nowhere to be seen.

Sememitari was in Imo on a two-day working visit to the state, with Governor Okorocha regretting that the Commission, which was established to serve member states, was turned into an automated teller machine (ATM) for some political bigwigs from the state.

Sememitari told Okorocha that she was in the state to brief him on the activities of the Commission in the state, stating that Imo was the first state she would be making such visit and said the Commission had executed 272 projects in the state since its inception (in year 2000) going by records available to her.

There are nine states that are members of the NDDC, drawn from South-South and South East geopolitical zone, all of which are producing crude oil.

She said the Commission would partner the state government, especially on the issue of identifying areas where the state was in dire need of certain projects, to avoid duplications.

But Okorocha said he was “shocked to hear that the NDDC has over 272 projects in the state for which billions of naira were also said to have been spent on. I would like to have the list of the projects, the contractors handling them and where they are sited, because Imo people would also be shocked to hear this. Let us know the projects, their sites and the amounts paid on each of them.”

According to Okorocha, the projects could exist only on papers, saying that the popular impression in the state has been that the NDDC abandoned the state and its people, while releasing money meant for projects in the state to some elements from the state in Abuja, who shared same with the contractors.

He accused the agency of isolating the state government; alleging further that at times, the people behind the fraud would ensure that both the NDDC and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs awarded different contracts on particular projects, with the job not being done at the end of the day. He further alleged that at times, the NDDC and the state government had haggled over which executed some projects.

BusinessDay recalls that in February 2015, the NDDC Imo commissioner, Kierian Ukaegbu had accused Okorocha administration of mounting signposts on its projects around the state. A case in point is Works Layout group of roads project in Owerri, the state capital, where both parties argued over which owned them. While the spat continued, the road has remained undone till date.

Okorocha then advised the NDDC to refrain from be partisan, saying the agency should engage in big-ticket projects like light rail linking the member states, electricity projects, among others.

 “People from the NDDC states should be provided with services required, despite their political affiliations; stressing that Imo has hardly benefited or felt the impact of the NDDC,” he stated.

He called on the acting MD to end the NDDC nightmare on Imo people; while seeking for areas of partnership.

He urged the NDDC management to look at areas of electric power and rail lines linking the NDDC states; while the Commission should refrain from constructing boreholes, renovation of schools and health centres, which are little loaves of bread compared with the huge needs of the Niger Delta people.

While describing the NDDC as an abode of corruption before now, he expressed confidence that the new MD has all it takes to correct the plunders of the past administration; requesting that contract papers given to contractors should be copied to the state government henceforth, to enable the government monitor the projects, effectively.