Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, assured the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of a robust partnership in delivering sustainable mega projects that would enhance the socio-economic lives of Deltans on Friday.
Governor Oborevwori gave the assurance when he received the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Sam Ogbuku, and his management team in Asaba.
The governor, who frowned at the litany of abandoned NDDC projects in the state and the region, expressed the readiness of his administration to partner with the interventionist agency to complete some of the projects and execute new ones.
While commending Ogbuku for his innovations geared at making the NDDC more transparent and accountable to the people of the region, he called for stakeholder engagements to align development plans.
He said, "I know you are competent and I know what you are doing, but I want to say something because I am a realist. When I came in, there were some projects that the NDDC was doing that they were unable to complete.
"There are abandoned projects, and I am happy that you mentioned them here. We have completed some of those projects. Also on the Bomadi Road, there was an abandoned bridge there, which we built last year.
"And even when you are talking about Sector C 2, which is from Ughelli to Asaba, it's a federal road, but we are doing it. The DSC and Effurun roundabouts are all federal roads, but we are constructing them.
"We engaged Julius Berger for those projects because we are the ones using the roads, even though they are federal roads. Other people that are coming are just visitors. So you must make your place a good for people to pass.
"The issue of partnership is very key. Partnering not only with multinationals but also with the state is very good.
"When the NDDC is on the same page with the governors of the Niger Delta, we will be able to plan and see what you people want to do, so that when we are doing our budgets, we will know what to budget for. Not that we budget for something and the NDDC will also budget for the same thing; it becomes a problem.
"There was one incident that happened: a road that was given to a contractor. We intervened in the project, but we were shocked that on that same road, they went and put the signpost of NDDC on it in December.
"They removed the signpost of Delta State, put their own, and took pictures. My Chief Press Secretary had to issue a press statement. Why am I saying this? So if a job that you have awarded is abandoned by the person and we decide to intervene, the person shouldn't come to you to collect money for the job that the state did.
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"If we partner, there is no way they can go and collect the money. So I will also let you know that for any of these projects that we are going to intervene on, we will write to you people so that no contractor will collect money for a job not done.
"I am also aware that on the Ugono road, about 2 kilometres, that job was awarded, and they only came and tried to do the drains, and they pulled out. That job has been completed by us and many others.
"It is also your fault to award contracts that you will not be able to finance. Sometimes, these contractors are not paid, so they are frustrated and have no choice but to pull out.
"Now that we are discussing it, it will help us partner well. The NDDC is an interventionist agency; they have to assist the people in this region. This is about the oldest interventionist agency in the whole of this country.
"We have the highest stake because the oil it will produce is what the nation feeds on today. So where are our benefits? Look at the east-west road; we are having challenges there.
"There is nothing wrong if you can provide palliatives on the road. You have the capacity to intervene. I was told that it is under the Federal Ministry of Works, but it is in this region.
"Anything you do in this region, those are the things that you will be remembered for. The way you are talking about partnership is the way to go because we want the region to succeed.
"So we will continue to partner to move our region forward. We must do something that we should be remembered for. This will be a service to both our people and the nation."
Governor Oborevwori also tasked the NDDC with effective monitoring of its projects to ensure that the people get value for their money.
"Monitoring is one important thing that you people need to do. Please ensure that you monitor your projects. Don't just leave them in the hands of the people in the state, because at the end of the day, it is the managing director and his team they will call.
"As the highest oil-producing state in the region, we need these projects. Rest assured that Delta State is ready to partner with NDDC.
"Write to us when you have important projects that you can't handle; we can take them over or do a joint venture to execute the project.
