Mkpoikana Udoma
21 November 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has so far awarded 893 projects in Bayelsa State, out of which 351 have been completed, Managing Director of the commission, Mr. Nsima Ekere, has revealed.
He made this known during a meeting with members of the Bayelsa State NDDC Project Verification Committee at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Ekere also revealed tat 271 other projects were on-going while contractors were yet to mobilise to site for another 196 projects.
He said: “The commission has so far awarded 893 projects in Bayelsa State, out of which 351 have been completed, which does not include the recent emergency interventions in the state.
“271 other projects are on-going while contractors are yet to mobilise to site for another 196 projects.
“54 projects have been stalled and four taken over by the state government, while 17 have been terminated.”
The NDDC boss commended the state for setting up a project verification committee, assuring that the NDDC would give it the necessary support, while expressing concern over the issue of stalled projects, which he said was often erroneously referred to as abandoned projects. He said that the NDDC was determined to change the narrative.
“We will be happier if we have fewer quality projects that can be completed on schedule for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of NDDC Projects Verification Committee in Bayelsa State, Engr. Charles Ambaiowei, said that their assignment was that of fact-finding and not for trouble.
Ambaiowei explained that during the recent visit of NDDC board and management to Governor Seriake Dickson, the impression was given that the state was one of the greatest beneficiaries of NDDC projects.
According to him, “that came to the governor as a surprise because the status of some of the projects listed were doubtful. The governor felt that there was need for verification of the projects to determine those that have actually been executed.”