Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) management of laying claim to and signing off on funds for a project carried out by the Rivers State Government.
Wike made the allegation Friday at Government House in Port Harcourt during a visit by the commission’s new board, led by its Chairman, Mrs. Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie, whom he charged with making a difference.
He told the visitors that “NDDC fraudulently claimed to have reconstructed the Chokocho-Igwuruta Road and signed off on the money when, in fact, the road was reconstructed and delivered by his administration.”
Governor Wike also served a demand notice on the commission to pay its counterpart fund of N2.5 billion (50%) of the N5 billion mutually agreed upon by both parties for the reconstruction of the dualised Eastern By-pass Road leading to the NDDC Headquarters.
According to the governor, NDDC entered into a similar agreement for the construction of the Mother and Child Hospital, collected the counterpart fund released by the Rivers State government, and refused to pay up theirs.
He claimed that his administration eventually abandoned the agreement and paid the entire bill for the hospital’s construction.
Wike urged the new NDDC board to make a difference, telling Onochie, “I read what you said about things being done differently. I’d like to think you’re sincere. Sometimes I feel ashamed of my origins. We talk about underdevelopment, but look at the amount of money that has gone through NDDC, then look at the projects that are actually taking place.
“There is what we call regional development projects that can link up two states, those are the kind of things NDDC should go for and give it to competent contractors. Leave these political consultants alone. Leave all of your portfolio contractors alone. Allow them to be alone. You came to my state and witnessed what I had done.
“If I didn’t use Julius Berger and had used these political contractors, you won’t have seen anything here. Of course, you are aware of Julius Berger’s high price. We have completed 12 Julius Berger Flyovers since 2019. You understand how much we’re talking about and can replicate it. Even though they are costly, you will see the value.
“For politicians, the NDDC has become a cash cow. Consider how much money the NDDC spent in this state just to win an election. N10 B was squandered. You could have used N10B to build a megaproject in the state.”
Governor Wike noted how the NDDC frequently enters and awards projects in states such as Rivers without consulting the existing development master plan, resulting in project duplication.
“The development that has taken place in Port Harcourt, let me speak about the one I have seen,” the NDDC Chairman said in her remarks to the governor. And I’d like to thank you.
“We’ve come to seek your advice. You have stated and are aware of the poor services that NDDC has been known for. Trillions of Naira have been poured into this commission, with little to show for it. We’ve arrived, determined to do things differently.”
