Residents of A’Ibom community lament abandoned project by commission
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been urged to resume work on dredging projects to ensure the wellbeing of the citizenry in the oil rich region.
A group of Concerned Nigerian Businessmen and Community Leaders (CNBCL), who made the call, warned that suspension of such all-important contracts will negatively affect the nation’s economy.
CNBCL also appealed to the Federal Government, NDDC and other relevant authorities to collaborate to address any legitimate concerns and issues tied to the said contracts.
Led by Amechi Jones, the group called for the settlement of all outstanding payments owed to contractors that have handled several projects in the region.
CNBCL asserted that any disruptions to dredging activities can severely affect the transportation of vital resources, ultimately impeding production and revenue generation for the government and private sector stakeholders.
The group, in a statement, noted: “We are deeply troubled by the recent decision of the NDDC to halt all dredging contracts in the region, feeling compelled to highlight the significant implications that this action carries.
The group said: “The Niger Delta, known as the economic backbone of Nigeria, has, for far too long, grappled with environmental challenges and infrastructure deficits, especially regarding waterway navigability. Dredging contracts have been a lifeline for the region, facilitating not only trade and commerce, but also serving as the very arteries through which countless livelihoods depend.
“Beyond the immediate impact on local communities, the suspension of dredging contracts has far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s national economy. The region plays a pivotal role in the country’s oil and gas sector.”
SIMILARLY, residents of Navy Road, Ibaka, in Mbo Local Council of Akwa Ibom State, have called on the state government to come to their rescue over an abandoned NDDC road project.
The contract for the construction of 7.3m wide access road, stretching over 1.8 kilometers linking Jetty to Ibaka-Oron Road, allegedly awarded by NDDC in 2013 to Messrs Foul Plant Nigeria Limited but abandoned, had become a source of suffering for the people of the area.
It was gathered that some part of the road, about 1.8km, which is in a deplorable state, was abandoned after overlaying bituminous asphalt.
Speaking, a youth leader from Ibaka, Etim Michael, said that the contractor abandoned the project in 2018 after a slow pace of work, which started in 2013.
