Cross River wants completion of abandoned NDDC projects

Worried about the large number of projects abandoned by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Cross River State government has called for a review to ensure their completion.

In an interview with The Guardian, the Special Assistant to the governor on NNDC, Mr. Victor Ekpo, explained that not less than 71 of such projects are in the state.

He urged the new board, headed by Victor Ndoma-Egba to constitute a monitoring team to inspect and follow up on the projects.

Ekpo said: “Some of the contractors have been mobilised to site, while others who have collected 30 to 40 per cent of the contract sum have not even taken off at the project sites.”

While stating that poor monitoring of contracts is partly to blame, he appealed to the NDDC to ensure that contractors are paid after completing their jobs to encourage others to finish theirs.

The special assistant urged the new board to develop a new template for executing projects to enable peace to return to the Niger Delta.

“The Federal Government should charge the NDDC board on equitable distribution of projects in the affected states and Cross River should benefit more because they ceded Bakassi to Cameroun as a sacrifice to the nation,” he added.

He cited another case where the state surrendered 76 oil wells to a sister state, stating they should be compensated by getting equal share in projects distribution.