– Advises Communities To Channel Complaints Properly
The Niger Delta Development Company NDDC Commissioner for Imo State, Hon Dr Kyrian Ukegbu, has assured the people of Umuna, in Orlu Local Government Area, Imo State of the company’s readiness to tackle the devastating erosion menace in the area. He however urged leaders of the community to ensure decorum and explore useful channels in approaching the authorities, instead of resorting to blackmail and propaganda.
Ukegbu, stated this while responding to a request made to the commission by Comrade Nwadike, an illustrious son of Umuna, who narrated the plight of his people.
Nwadike, on Tuesday, during a flood sensitization programme facilitated by the NDDC at Owerri, the state capital, noted that the suffering of residents of his community are man made. He accused a construction company named Techno Transfer Company TTC, of digging a tunnel in the community in the early 1990s and abandoned it half way.
According to him, TTC, started the development of Orlu main town, during a long tunnel in the community at a point near St Joseph’s Catholic Parish, Umuna and later abandoned the project after connecting floods from different neighboring communities to the uncompleted tunnel in Umuna, thereby worsening the already bad situation.
He appealed to the NDDC, to as a matter of urgency save his people from being swept away by the flood.
The NDDC boss in Imo State, blamed the attitude of some leaders and youths of the community who he said are in the habit of demanding kick back from the company. When these contractors waste all their money settling land owners and leaders, they no longer take seriously the project. They may even abandon such project and disappear.
“So, on the issue of Umuna, if you can, from today, form a committee and approach the necessary bodies, then your case can receive some necessary attentions”, the NDDC state’s boss assured.
It would be recalled that GOC Nwadike as the President, Old Boys and Girls Central Schools I and 2 Umuna, has been at the fore-front of calling government’s attention to the devastating state of Umuna from flood; a matter which came up at the floor of the Imo state house of assembly last week”.
