The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has set up three committees in order to pilot the commissioning of completed projects across the Niger Delta region and to facilitate Organisational reforms.
The commission’s Interim Administrator, Mr Efiong Akwa, who spoke during the inauguration of the committees at the new headquarters of the Commission, noted that beginning from now onwards the Commission would focus the completion and commissioning of big ticket regional projects. He also inaugurated the NDDC Reforms Committee with the Director of Information Technology, Mr Anslem Agommuoh as chairman and Project Commissioning Committee led by the Director of Project Management Department, Engr. Julius Tonye George.
“Seeing is believing. The people of the Niger Delta have always wanted to see the extent of services rendered by the NDDC as an interventionist agency. People are tired of listening to stories because they want to see physical projects on the ground. Over time, the NDDC has completed many projects that are due for commissioning
“It is a thing of joy that the headquarters which has been outstanding for over 20 years has now been completed. Now, we have a befitting headquarters building for the NDDC that is due for commissioning. We are looking at the end of January and the second week of February for the historic commissioning.
“We cannot continue to deny members of the various communities the benefit of projects sited in their areas. Many projects have been completed but were not handed over to communities or end users. These include roads, bridges, schools, hostels and health centres.
According to Akwa, the Commission was making history by inaugurating a committee charged with identifying all completed projects and getting them ready for commissioning and handed over to the beneficiaries.
“It is important that we invite all key stakeholders to witness the commissioning ceremonies. This is what Niger Deltans and indeed Nigerians want to see. We are departing from the era when projects are executed and left to rot. Gone are the days when we just inaugurate projects and leave them without anybody taking ownership.
“When projects are commissioned and taken over by benefitting communities, they usually have cause to express gratitude to the Federal Government and the Commission because they are genuinely happy. Such gestures of appreciation will encourage Mr President to do more for the people of the region”.
In view of the NDDC Reforms Committee, Akwa hinted that there was need for the Commission to look inwards and carry out reforms that would distinguish it as an institution that would deliver five-star services to the people of the Niger Delta region.
Akwa, however, maintained that the recommendations of the reforms committee would be forwarded to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs for onward transmission to the National Assembly for the appropriate legislations. he also maintained that”.
“We believe that some legislations will add value to the Commission.
For instance, we want to propose that the position of Executive Director Projects should be renamed as Executive Director Engineering and Technical Services.
The recommendation will be turned over to Ernst and Young, the field forensic auditor in charge of programmes and activities at the NDDC headquarters for incorporation into its final report.”
In his own view, Chairman of the Project Commissioning Committee, Engr. Tonye George, commended the Interim Administrator for giving them the opportunity to execute what he called an important project; adding that records proved that the NDDC had done so much to transform the rural communities.
“We are going to showcase all completed NDDC projects for the world and Nigerians to see what the Commission had accomplished over the years”, he stated.
