Bayelsa govt, NDDC partner for infrastructural development, to complete Ogbia-Nembe road before December

 

The Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) on Thursday assured the people of Bayelsa state on the completion of Ogbia-Nembe road before the end of 2017, and expressed readiness to partner with the government in its efforts to transform the state.

 

Leading the management team of the Commission on a courtesy visit to Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state, its Chairman, Senator Ndoma Egba

Said the commission wants to establish a new relationship that will be built on togetherness and not competition with the government.

 

He said the completion of Ogbia-Nembe road and other projects across the state are being accorded topmost priority by the present management.

 

The chairman disclosed that since the commission was established some years back, it has embarked on 941 projects, out of which some were completed and commissioned, some are stalled while some are ongoing.

 

Giving the breakdown of the NDDC projects in the state, the chairman said 228 projects are ongoing, contractors are yet to be mobilized to sites for 246 projects, 89 projects are stalled, 17 projects terminated, four have been taken over by the Bayelsa government, 233 projects completed and 124 projects commissioned.

 

He said that the era of duplication of projects by the commission and the respective states government  is over, stressing the need for a synergy.

 

The new policy of the commission, according to the chairman is hinged on 4Rs that is Restore the commission, Restructure the balance sheet Reform the government system and Return to what is right, fair, and just.

 

Responding, the state governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson lamented the slow pace of development in the region, particularly Bayelsa state, in spite of her contribution to the socio-economic development of the state.

 

According to him, NDDC was established by law to fast track development of the region. Niger Delta is one of most exploited region. Bayelsa is the Houston of Africa not just Nigeria. Sixty-one years after discovery of crude oil in commercial quantity in Oloibiri, there is no road to Brass, Bonny and Forcadoes where there are oil terminals.

 

Young men from the region now carry AK47 and struggle for surveillance contracts while other smile to the banks with proceeds from oil blocks that are ancestral property of the Niger Delta.

 

He thanked the Federal government  for creating different platforms, and called on all leaders to work towards greater patriotism and use the various offices presently occupied and change the system.

 

He complained about some companies that come into the state and do as they please, submitting that such practice is no longer acceptable.

 

He mentioned that propaganda should cease as it has over the years driven investors away.

 

Governor Dickson thanked NDDC for pioneering the Ogbia –Nembe road , and the Sagbama- Ekeremor road, and assured the NDDC of the partnership between the NDDC and state.