Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has advised the new
board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to do things
differently.
The new board members were inaugurated on Wednesday.
According to a statement by Kelvin Ebiri, his spokesperson,
Wike spoke when Lauretta Onochie, the new board chairman, led other members of
the board on a courtesy visit to the governor on Friday.
Wike advised the NDDC to adopt a regional development
approach that will strictly commit to the holistic development of Niger Delta
states.
The governor urged the board to embrace the
conceptualisation and implementation of projects like the construction of
highways with bridges to link states.
He said such projects will serve as economic corridors to
ease interstate movement and promotion of socioeconomic integration within the
region.
Wike also said when projects are awarded, they should not be
given to “portfolio or political contractors”, but to competent ones who will
stick to delivering quality projects.
“I read what you said that things will be done differently.
I want to believe that you’re sincere,” Wike said.
“Sometimes, I feel ashamed where I come from. We talk about
underdevelopment, but look at the amount of money that has passed through NDDC,
then look at the projects on ground.
“There is what we call regional development projects that
can link up two states. Those are the kind of things NDDC should go for, and
give it to competent contractors.
“Leave these political contractors. Leave all these portfolio
contractors. Leave them alone. You have come to my state and you have seen what
I have done.
“If I didn’t use Julius Berger and had used these political
contractors, you won’t have seen anything here. Of course, you know how
expensive Julius Berger is.
“From 2019 till now, we have done 12 flyovers by Julius
Berger. You know how much we are talking about and you can replicate that. Even
though they are expensive, you’ll see the value.”
The governor also said NDDC can devote huge sums annually, to
executing projects in each state of the region without distorting the existing
development master plan.
Speaking further, he said it is “shameful” to see the
unproductive model NDDC had operated.
“NDDC has become a cash cow for politicians. Look, part of
the money NDDC lost in this state just to win election here. N10 [billion]
wasted,” he said.
“N10 [billion] you could have used to construct a mega
project in the state.”
In her address, Onochie said the board visited to formally
introduce themselves to Wike.
She cited the quality of infrastructure delivered by Wike’s
administration “that has transformed the entire landscape of the state”, adding
that the board came to ask for guidance on “quality project delivering mantra
across the region”.
“We are here to ask for your guidance. You have said and
know, and you have spoken about the poor services that NDDC has been known
for,” Onochie said.
“Trillions of naira have been pumped into this commission
and we have little or nothing to show for it. We are here now, very determined
to do things differently.”
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