Commissioner representing Cross River State in the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Orok Otu-Duke, has dismissed claims in certain quarters that the Nyanghasang community road project in Calabar Municipality local government area of Cross River was executed by NDDC.
The NDDC commissioner who is a former deputy speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly during the Donald Duke’s administration made the assertion during an interactive session with journalists in Calabar yesterday.
The NDDC commissioner, who spoke while reacting to a face-off between Gov. Bassey Otu and Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong ‘s supporters over ownership of Nyanghasang and Idang Street in the Calabar South local government area, stated that the Nyanghasang project was never executed by NDDC but by the Cross River State government.
Supporters of both politicians almost clashed during the visit of the minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, to commission NDDC Road Projects and the state-of-the-art Secretariat Friday in Calabar, but security agents restored orderliness.
The NDDC commissioner stressed that the Nyanghasang community road project was not one of the projects captured for execution by the commission.
Chief Duke averred that the project’s origins dated back to the administration of former Governor Liyel Imoke and continued under the current Governor Bassey Otu, who is actively intervening in road infrastructure.
“If anyone is in a position to clarify this issue, it is me. I represent the NDDC in this state, and I am fully aware of all NDDC projects as captured in our budget.
“I want to categorically reiterate that the Nyanghasang Road project is not an NDDC initiative. From inception to this point, the entire effort has been undertaken by the state government,” he stated.
He criticised attempts by some federal lawmakers to take undue credit for state-led projects, describing it as a tactic to siphon public funds and mislead constituents.
“Some individuals from the Senate came in, hurriedly asphalted a section of the road, and tried to claim ownership to divert funds.
“There is no Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME), voucher, or award letter to substantiate their claim.
” It is unfortunate that Cross River is being used as a smokescreen for financial misappropriation,” he added.
The commissioner stated that all the NDDC projects are adequately documented and budgeted for adding that the only project captured and commissioned recently was a 900-meter stretch of Idang Road in Calabar South.
He explained that the controversy began when some individuals attempted to rename Nyanghasang Road ahead of an NDDC commissioning event without the consent of the local government council.
“At NDDC, we insist on transparent processes, including proper site handovers, devoid of political manipulation. If Nyanghasang were an NDDC project, it would have followed due process involving the state government, not a federal legislator who played no oversight role but chose to brand the project with personal images,” he said.
In his remarks, the Cross River State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ankpo Edet, reaffirmed the state government’s ownership and execution of the project.
He confirmed that the road was awarded and fully funded by the state, from the previous administration to Governor Bassey Otu’s current tenure.
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