The Niger Delta Development Commission, on Thursday, said it had so far completed about 7,000 projects valued at over N1.66tn in the Niger Delta region, adding that 6,000 other projects were currently ongoing.
It outlined the completed and ongoing projects including roads, bridges, buildings, renewable energy projects, jetties, water supply systems, skill acquisition centres, healthcare and education projects, among others.
The NDDC, established on June 5, 2000, by the Niger Delta Development Commission Establishment Act No. 6 of 2000, is a Federal Government agency that has the sole mandate of developing the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
The commission also disclosed that the 6,000 ongoing projects in the region were valued at over N1.5tn, adding that the agency had awarded more than N5tn worth of contracts since the establishment of the NDDC.
It disclosed this in Abuja at a one-day policy dialogue with development partners and donor agencies organised by the commission in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
In a presentation at the event, the Chairman NDDC-Public Private Partnership Committee, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, said, “The NDDC has completed over 7,000 projects since inception, valued at N1.66tn.
“Also, over 6,000 projects are ongoing across various locations in the Niger Delta region and these projects are valued at over N1.5tn.”
He stated that the value of the total contracts awarded by the agency since it was established was N5.2tn, whereas the agency had received just about N2.5tn from inception, adding that the sum include staff salaries, executed projects, etc.
Audu-Ohwavborua told donors and partners at the event that over N200bn worth of renewable energy projects had been completed and ongoing to attract carbon credit to the region.
The Managing Director, NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, said the dialogue was organised to get the collaboration of stakeholders and development partners in promoting greater synergy for enhanced result in the oil-rich region.
He explained that the NDDC policy dialogue was part of a deliberate effort by the commission to deepen relationships with development partners and the private sector to close gaps in sustainable development in the region.
“This is through the coordination of development interventions for improved effectiveness and impact,” Ogbuku stated.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Shuaib Belgore, said the dialogue was one of many strategies designed by the ministry and the NDDC to “fast-track the development of the Niger Delta region through extra-budgetary provisions aimed at meeting socio-economic needs in the region.”
He added, “I also believe that this platform would present stakeholders a window of opportunity to collectively review our past development efforts in the region, with a view to charting a new robust roadmap premised on probity and corporate governance structure.”
SOURCE: THE PUNCH
