Niger Delta Stakeholders/contractors had a fruitful engagement with the state representative on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC); Chief Sir Chief Tony C Okocha KSC, DSSRS. The engagement which had become long overdue because of several issues/challenges was brought every week to the state office of the Commission. While addressing attendees, the Rivers Representative pleaded with contractors to return to the site and promised that the board will ensure that delivered projects will be promptly paid for He said the meeting will serve a lot of purposes and it will benefit everyone, especially knowing he doesn’t bow to sentiment but superior argument.
Sir Okocha said ” I am not here to have an unfruitful discussion but I am here to have a fruitful interaction with you and know what your plights are, it will interest you to know the importance and value I have for you, I had canceled my appointment in Abuja to be in this meeting, I don’t need to be told that there are problems of payment that has affected the snail movement of projects and also I know that regular change of board members has negatively affected contractors not to effectively and efficiently carry out their contracts as when due”
Chief Tony stressed that he cannot be intimidated by whatsoever means or be influenced by any contractor to take a bribe and not stand to defend the truth that he is here to represent the people and he will not stop doing the right thing, he raised concern about contractors constructing substandard projects which will not stand the test of time, he pointed out a particular road project constructed by a contractor that didn’t last up to one year and frowned at such ill characters among the contractors.
NDDC State Rep Promised to serve the people to the best of his ability, informing attendees that under the watch of the board, the commission will seek the automation of
the administrative system to engender optimal output. He assured that the era of missing documents is over. He further said ” I am not a high table administrator, neither am I a high table politician I’m a field marshal so I’m here to serve and to protect the interest of the people. Also, any contractor, who finds pleasure in constructing substandard projects should bear in mind that such a person will have to contend with me”
During the interactive session, contractors including General Ebi Chimezie , Chief Ordu , and others , thanked the Rivers Representative for the initiative , they also raised the issue of poor mobilization and also pleaded with the board to consider insecurity while awarding contracts. They ( the contractors) pleaded for prompt payment to those who have completed their jobs. In response, the Rivers State Rep said “The first step I took when I was sworn into office, was to meet with first class, second class, and third class traditional rulers and pleaded with them to give full support and cooperation to NDDC contractors to enable them to carry out their jobs effectively without hitch, that any community that fails to give needed support and any contractor come under attack I will withdraw that contract and give to a community that needs the project”
Chief Okocha also asked the contractors to go back to the site and complete their projects that the era of abandoned projects is over that he will make sure their payment is made as at when due, that his sole desire is the development of the region, he sighted a case he took upon itself when the people of you wrote to the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the commission Chief Samuel Ogbuku, through the state office that he refused to pass it through the administrative procedure to avoid the long process because it’s an emergency that needed urgent attention. The people’s MD provided a solution to the Soku people, they made a four-point demand and the commission has already done one and the remaining three are in the pipeline, the commission also promised to provide a proper solar borehole water system and palliative to the people of Soku Community that is to say state NDDC is proactive and ready to serve her people.
He also opined ” I’m getting ready to start commissioning projects, surprisingly I will visit all projects sites without notifying you and if I find out any wrong thing outside the standard given to the contractors I will seal such projects”. “Also join us and render your voice and plead to the Federal Government to pull NDDC out from TSA, that will enhance sporadic development in our region, take a look at Abuja today, the FCT Minister, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike has turned Abuja into a construction site because FCT has been pulled out from TSA”
Finally, the NDDC State Rep promised that this kind of stakeholders meeting will be held regularly to share ideas and foster working relationships with stakeholders.
