…Calls for stakeholder engagement to align development plans
Issue of abandoned projects in the Niger Delta States have continued top debates among Niger Delta Stakeholders and Friday, August 9, has gone down in history as a day Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State again, went emotional on the issue even as he identified lack of partnership as a major reason.
He assured the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of robust partnership from the Delta State Government under his administration, in delivering sustainable mega projects that would enhance socio-economic lives of Deltans
Speaking when he received the Managing Director of the NDDC, Sam Ogbuku and his management team, Oborevwori said his administration was ready to partner the interventionist agency to complete some of the projects and execute new ones.
He commended Ogbuku for his innovations geared at making the NDDC more transparent and accountable to the people of the region and called for stakeholder engagements to align development plans.
“I know you are competent and I know what you are doing, but I want to say something because I am a realist. When I came in, there were some projects that the NDDC was doing that they are unable to complete.
“There are abandoned projects and I am happy that you mentioned it here. We have completed some of those projects. Also, the Bomadi road, there is one of the bridges there, we went and did it; that was last year.
“And even when you are talking about the Sector C 2, which is from Ughelli to Asaba, it’s a federal road but we are doing it. The DSC and Effurun roundabouts are all federal roads but we are doing them.
“We engaged Julius Berger for those projects because we are the ones using the roads even though they are federal roads. Other people that are coming are just visitors. So, you must make your place good for people to pass.
“The issue of partnership is very key. Not only to partner with the multi-nationals but also partnership with the state is very good.
“When the NDDC is on the same page with the governors of the Niger Delta, we will be able to plan and see what you people want to do, so that when we are doing our budgets, we will know what to budget for. Not that we budget for something and the NDDC will also budget for the same thing; it becomes a problem,” the governor said.
According to him, “There was one incident that happened, a road that was given to a contractor, we intervened in the project but we were shocked that that same road, they went and put the signpost of NDDC on it in December.
“They removed the signpost of Delta State and put their own and took pictures. My Chief Press Secretary had to issue a press statement. Why am I saying this? So that a job that you have awarded and the person abandoned it and we decided to intervene, the person shouldn’t come to you to collect money for job that the state did.
“If we partner, there is no way they can go and collect the money. So, I will also let you know that any of these projects that we are going to intervene, we will write to you people; so that no contractor will collect money for job not done.
“I am also aware that the Ugono road, about 2 kilometres, that job was awarded and they only came and tried to do the drains and they pulled out. That job has been completed by us and many other roads.
“It is also your fault to award contracts that you will not be able to finance. Sometimes, these contractors are not paid, so they are frustrated and have no choice but to pull out.
“Now that we are discussing, it will help us partner well. The NDDC is an interventionist agency, they have to assist the people in this region. This is about the oldest interventionist agency in the whole of this country.
“We have the highest stake because the oil we produce is what the nation feeds on today. So, where is our benefit? Look at the East-West Road, we are having challenges there.
“There is nothing wrong if you can provide palliatives on the road. You have the capacity to intervene. I was told that it is under the Federal Ministry of Works but it is in this region.
“Anything you do in this region; those are the things that you will be remembered for. The way you are talking about partnership, is the way to go because we want the region to succeed.
“So, we will continue to partner to move our region forward. We must do something that we should be remembered for. This will be service to both our people and the nation.”
Governor Oborevwori also tasked the NDDC on effective monitoring of its projects to ensure that the people get value for their money.
“Monitoring is one important thing that you people need to do. Please ensure you monitor your projects. Don’t just leave them in the hands of the people in the state because at the end of the day, it is the Managing Director and his team they will call.
“As the highest oil producing state in the region, we need these projects. Be rest assured that Delta State is ready to partner NDDC.
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“Write to us when you have important projects that you can’t handle, we can take it over or do a joint venture to execute the project. We are ready because any project in the state, it is our people that will benefit the most.
“It was last week I took a decision to take over the Ohoror-Bomadi road, because without that road, you cannot even have access to the Akugbene road that you want to do,” he said.
Earlier, Ogbuku said he was in the state to discuss issues of mutual benefits between NDDC and the Delta State Government.
He noted that as the largest oil producing state in the country, Delta would have a large portion of the recently passed NDDC budget.
The MD said that the management was building a transformative and transparent NDDC that is accountable to the people of the region and appealed to the state government for partnership with the Commission and Chevron for the construction of the Omadino-Okerenkoko-Escravos Road and bridges, adding that when completed, it will help improve the economy of Delta State.
Ogbuku disclosed that the commission was compiling a data base of Niger Delta youths to engage in their areas of passion and competence for growth opportunities, adding that KPMG has been commissioned to design a Corporate Governance Structure for the NDDC.
