Our Mandate Is To Complete Abandoned Legacy Projects – NDDC

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has said its mandate is to complete abandoned legacy projects.

Chief Samuel Ogbuku, managing director, NDDC, confirmed on Monday in Asaba, Delta State during the commission’s world press briefing marking its 25th anniversary, saying the gesture was to add value to what has been on the ground.

While saying that critical projects needed to be completed, he said the commission has made arrangements to partner with other intervention agencies, even the contractors, to complete the projects or for them to leave the projects for the commission to complete.

According to him, the commission cannot just sack the contractors for non-performance since there is a contractual agreement, the procurement act was especially made to avoid litigation.

On the challenges, he said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was initially angry because the commission was not executing projects in its areas of operations, but has now incorporated them into the commission’s budget committee.

“They now bring out projects in their areas of operations. They are cooperating now that they are seeing the improvements. There are projects in Edo, Ondo, and other states where NDDC and NLLG are partnering.

“We are already discussing how to construct bridges with Chevron and the Delta state government. We have met with the Delta State government five times on how to partner for developmental purposes.

“Now they have our confidence. Their contributions have increased. The federal government has also increased its commission funding, “ he stated.

Earlier in his welcome address, Barr Chiedu Ebie, chairman of the Governing Board, said the board’s mission was to engage with critical stakeholders to tell the story of the journey.

“We want to do the job with sincerity of purpose. Not to betray the confidence bestowed on us. We thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for finding us worthy to do the job,” Ebie stated.