Abia State News Special Report
IS NDDC A CESSPOOL OF CORRUPTION?
![]()
Afnews Editor
Dec 05, 2019
Since the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the year 2000 during the regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Commission has over the years been vested with the core mandate of assessing and reporting on projects being funded or carried out by NDDC in the 9 oil producing States.
READ ALSO:
REVEALED: Bende Youths Declare Total Support for Alex Otti's 2027 Return, Back Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso for Reps Seat
Other mandate of this all important Commission is conception, planning and implementation, in accordance with set roles and regulations of projects and programmes for sustainable development of the Niger Delta area in the field of Transportation, including roads, industrialization, agriculture and fisheries, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecom.
READ ALSO:
WATCH VIDEO: Why We Embarked On Enumeration Of Abia State Traditional Rulers - Comm, Uzor Nwachukwu
The government, during the establishment of NDDC, had in mind the mission of facilitating the rapid even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.
READ ALSO:
(READ DETAIL): N50 PAID DURING POS TRANSACTIONS IS FRAUDULENT - CBN
Over the years, things seems to have fallen apart in this Commission as Road Contract awards and projects which they claimed to have executed are only on paper but nothing to show for it at all.
READ ALSO:
Birthday: Emenike Iroegbu Celebrates Ikechukwu Emetu, Praises His Support for Otti's Agenda
The Niger Delta Development Commission oversees 9 States in the Country which include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Rivers, Edo and Ondo State. Every year, huge sums running into billions of naira are allocated to this crucial agency of government for building of road projects, bridges, class room blocks, intervention programms, scholarships etc .
READ ALSO:
A Loyal Force In Abia's Rebirth: Dogo Bende Celebrates Emetu's Leadership And Legacy
Indication has shown that the projects being executed by NDDC have never commensurated with the humongous amount the government normally allocate to it, and this is where the crux of the matter is anchored.
READ ALSO:
TOP STORY: New Ways Hackers Attack Phones Through SMS, Power Outage Messages
Recently, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State was shocked to his marrow when he heard for the first time that NDDC has paid out over 1 billion naira to contractors so as to construct the Ohanku Road Aba, Azikiwe Road and other Road projects which the Commission claimed is ongoing in the State.
READ ALSO:
EID-UL-KABIR: DSS Uncovers Plot To Attack Worship, Recreational Centres | READ DETAILS
During the visit of the management team of the Commission to the Governor in Umuahia, NDDC senior officials, ably led by its acting Managing Director Dr. Joi Nuneih had told Governor Ikpeazu that Ohanku Road Aba among others was listed among NDDC projects executed in Aba with almost I billion naira already paid out to contractors.
READ ALSO:
Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso Challenges Youths on Enterprise, Leadership, Backs Continuity of Otti's Reforms
From the look of things, NDDC has become a cesspool of corruption where officials collude with both local and foreign contractors to siphon fund meant for road projects across the region. This is not fair at all.
READ ALSO:
Pictures: See Ebute Meta train station to be commissioned by President Buhari today
It has been observed that NDDC used to pay huge amount of money to politicians and their proxies for phantom road projects.
READ ALSO:
18 June 1982: "I want to go home" - Ojukwu | Exile and his return to Nigeria
If only 50% of the road projects listed were delivered according to specifications, Abia State and other States in the region would have had the best road network in the Country.
READ ALSO:
Birthday: Former Deputy Governor Ude Oko Chukwu Celebrates Ikechukwu Emetu, Offers Prayers for Strength in Building New Abia
The time has come for the Federal Government to embark on a thorough overhaul of the management of the Commission and investigate the so many corrupt dealings which has been going on in NDDC and those found culpable must go in for it so as to serve as a deterrent to others.
READ ALSO:
GRAND RECEPTION: Massive Crowd Endorses Alex Otti for 2027 as He Unveils Bold Plans to Transform Umuahia | WATCH VIDEO
Written By: Emenike Jason Iroegbu (Editor In Chief - Abia Facts Newspaper)
