1,700 abandoned NDDC projects in Bayelsa unacceptable, says Diri

• Urges Buhari to constitute substantive board

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has described the more than 1,700 abandoned projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in different parts of the state, as unacceptable.

Some of the abandoned projects include: the Angalabiri-Ebedebiri-Toru-Orua shore protection project, captured in the commission’s 2020 budget; the Sabagreia-Polaku bridge, as well as the Akenfa bridge, among others.

Diri, who spoke yesterday when NDDC Interim Administrator, Dr. Akwa Effiong, visited him in the Government House, Yenagoa, noted that the non-collaboration of the commission with catchment states that would advise on priority projects has led to duplication and abandonment of projects.

Diri called on President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute a substantive board for the commission in accordance with its enabling Act, saying its absence is hindering the commission’s operations.

Diri stressed that the interim administrator’s arrangement is unknown to the Act and unacceptable to governors of Niger Delta states. He noted that the commission had not been able to meet its mandate because of the absence of a substantive board.

Describing the NDDC as an interventionist body created to fill the developmental gap in the Niger Delta, Diri said governors have also been robbed of their advisory role, which would have enabled the board to embark on people-oriented projects in the region.

He expressed his administration’s preparedness to work with the commission to foster development in the state.

His words: “The NDDC has a lot of abandoned projects in Bayelsa. From reports, we have over 1,700 projects all over the state. I know that is not healthy.

“I appeal to President Buhari to constitute a substantive board for the NDDC according to the Act setting it up.

“The NDDC was conceived and established as an interventionist body to fill developmental gap. We cannot accept these policy summersaults that make our development suffer.”

“The interim arrangement has become the norm rather than the exception. That is totally unacceptable to us as governors of the Niger Delta states.

“We have a huge stake according to the Act establishing the NDDC, and that role is not being played. With the interim administration, there is no board for us to advise.”