By Dorcas Samson Achi
Better Community Life Initiative (BECOLIN) in partnership with Social Action (SA) has called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to perform their duty which is to facilitate rapid and sustainable development of the oil-rich region of Nigeria to ensure its economic prosperity, social stability and peaceful coexistence.
In discharge of their duty as Civil Society Organization (CSO), the group undertook monitoring exercise of NDDC projects in Imo State, using a copy of 2019 NDDC budget from the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and revealed their findings during a Press briefing in Owerri on 15th July, 2024.
The group gave a detailed information on the status of NDDC 2019 Budget Implemention in Imo State, revealing many projects that were executed, abandoned and not executed.
Emphasis were made on the none execution and abandonment of projects such as, the proposed construction of Comprehensive Health Center Ogwuama in Ahiazu Mbaise LGA with 70,000,000 budgeted, 10500,000 approved but the community admitted that it was started in 2019 but abandoned, provision of solar street lights at redemption estate phase 11 in Obinze, Owerri West LGA with 100,000,000 budgeted, 15,000,000 approved but not executed, the construction of school Hall in Atta Girls Secondary School, Ikeduru LGA with 50,000,000 budgeted, 7, 500, 000 approved but project not executed, amongst many other laudable projects with approved funds.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr. Chibundu Uchegbu, the Programs Director of BECOLIN, condemned the level of under developments in this region with emphasis on Imo State, saying that Imo is still in awful backwardness as a result of mismanagement of resources, absence of transparency, lack of accountability, non execution of budgeted projects, non involvement of community people to choose their projects and project abandonment that characterized the commission.
He stated that in the cause of their research, they found out that non clarity and specification of project location is a serious concern as it creates a sufficient ground for suspicion and intentional move to rope in projects into the existing projects that are either community efforts or association efforts or old projects is condemnable.
He also revealed that some NDDC projects bear the logo and sponsorship of politicians, thereby sending messages that the projects were funded by politicians instead of NDDC, this he condemned completely.
He unequivocally stated that the ministry of Niger Delta affairs, saddled with the responsibility of supervising the commission has not lived up to expectations, else there would not be large number of unexecuted and abandoned projects in the region.
However, the group demands the following:
1. That NDDC makes details of the contractors and the project contract procurement within a reasonable time.
2. That NDDC carries out comprehensive investigation on why the projects were abandoned or not executed
3. That after thorough investigations and contractors are culpable, they should be compelled to go back to sites with immediate effect. Alternatively, they should refund the money and the refund should be made public
4. Additionally, anti graft agencies should be formally invited to launch prosecution where necessary.
5. That community people should be included in the NDDC budget preparation process to enable them choose their own projects in areas of priority and be part of the implementation process too
6. That the National assembly and executive arm of government should stop approving projects whose locations are not explicit.
The group stated their commitment to look into the status of NDDC projects of 2020 to 2024, to ascertain discrepancies in these projects , in their quest to ensure that NDDC carries out their legitimate duties to accelerate developments and improve the living standard of the masses.
