NDDC Awards #2.4trn Projects In 15 years

I read with keen interest a report credited to the Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari .on TODAY.ng, that the commission spent #2.4trn on various projects in the last 15 years. The commission established in year 2000 by the then Obasanjo government, with the aim of facilitating the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into an economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful region as its core mandate, was to serve as a vehicle to address the gap in infrastructures within the oil producing states in Nigreria.

 A quick summary of the report showed that 8,557 infrastructural development projects were carried out within the period under review, out of which 3,454 worth #441Bn were completed. The projects covered areas such as roads, bridges, jetty and shore protection, canalisation and reclaimation, electricity and power, water and buildings, food control and equipping and furnishing. 250 mega projects worth #500 - #24Bn were awarded, while 2,257 projects valued at #1.2trn still ongoing,

The report also indicated that 292 projects worth #81Bn were either stalled or abandoned. A total of 49 projects at the cost of #1.9Bn faced termination during the period. While other government agencies took over 29 projects valued at #16Bn. If this report represents the true picture of the activities of the commission within the period I think we should appreciate the effort of the federal government at making life better for the people of Niger Delta. This amount represents an average of #160Bn annually. This is more than the budgets of 27 states in the 2016 appropriation year, and in particular more than the budget of Ekiti (#67Bn) & Taraba (#68,8), and or Niger (#74.7Bn) & Kogi (#75Bn) combined.

This is huge asides other incentives like the 13% derivation to the oil producing states and the amnesty program for the about 10,000 ex-militants from the region to mention few. This piece is not to praise the federal government nor to demarket the quest of the Niger Delta region for more attention but a clarion call to the people of the region and Nigerian in general.

There are questions begging for answers if this report is anything to be accepted. The commission should be bold enough to tell it all by releasing the lists of what have been done, where, and by who. The people on their part should be bold enough to come forward and confirm what has been done within their domain. There must be proof that what is on ground justified what has been spent and that money were recovered from abandoned projects and the culprits prosecuted.