NDDC contractors abandon key Abia project, says @GovernorIkpeazu

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has complained to the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over the abandonment of the Ohanku road project by the contractor.

He urged the commission to look into the plight of the residents of Ohanku Road with a view to alleviating their suffering.

The contract, he said was awarded by the NDDC before he came into office.

Ikpeazu spoke when he received the board of the Commission led by its Chairman oSenator Victor Ndoma-Egba at the Government House in Umuahia.

He described the condition of Ohanku Road as ‘very very bad’ because of the bad performance of the NDDC contractor who abandoned the project and left the people in a difficult situation.

“Ohanku road is very important to our people and as we speak the road is in a totally deplorable condition from the Ngwa road end to the express road.

“With that road tied up with your contract, our government cannot legally intervene to redress the situation as quickly as required.

The governor, who decried other poor quality jobs being executed in the state by NDDC contractors, enjoined the commission to ensure the engagement of stakeholders and youths of oil producing communities to ensure the sustainability and longevity of projects in their area.

Senator Ndoma Egba said the visit was to renew confidence with stakeholders of member states of NDDC and share thoughts and ideas on the direction the Commission is going with their mandate.

“As part of the necessary confidence building measures, the NDDC is trying to open up its activities to greater scrutiny, not just for stakeholders but the masses of the member states as well”, Ndoma said.

He said the commission had awarded 557 contracts valued at N82.2 billion in Abia State. According to him, of the total contracts 166 are ongoing,  295 completed while others were abandoned or stalled for various reasons.

He told the governor that other new contracts had been awarded in Abia but the contractors are yet to be mobilised to work, while some projects were terminated for different reasons.

With Ndoma- Egba were Managing Director Nsima Ekere; Executive Director Projects, Sam Adjogbe, Executive Director Finance and Admin, Mene Derek and Olorogun Jaro Egbo

Thenation