By Kelvin Ohoror
The commissioner
representing Delta State in the board of the Niger Delta development commission
(NDDC), Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, has restated his commitment towards the revaluation
and implementation of projects that has been contracted in Isoko nation to
ensure effective and timely completion of the projects.
Dr. Ifowodo made
this statement during a town hall meeting of his stewardship with stakeholders
of Isoko development union, held at the Isoko development union secretariat
Oleh, Isoko South local government area of Delta State. He pointed out that
twenty two projects in Delta State were listed and submitted for approval, but
only Ibrede – Iyede Ame – Onogbokor – Abor road in Ndokwa East local government
area and Asagba primary school renovation and rehabilitation in Isoko North
were approved as area of interest in Isoko nation by the commission.
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| Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo commissioner representing Delta in the Board of NDDC during a town hall meeting with Isoko Development Union and other stakeholders |
The commissioner
assured of revaluation of several projects listed for construction in Isoko
South and North especially, the dualization of Oleh township road which was
awarded over seven years ago. He lamented that all the five Isoko mega projects
submitted for approval were omitted, noting that he is determined to revalue
the projects and submit them back for approval.
Dr. Ifowodo
maintained that the 132 KVA transmission line from Ughelli to Ozoro substation
is receiving attention even as Enwhe / Olomoro 2 kilometer road project
contractor has been mobilized and will soon return back to site. According to
the commissioner, NDDC have advertized for student’s scholarship from oil
producing communities and urged parents to sensitize their children to benefit
from the programme.
He said, the
commission has over ten thousand projects in the Nine oil producing states of
Nigeria which according to him cannot be approved at the same time due to
paucity of funds. Ifowodo noted that many projects have been abandoned even as
new ones are added because of new commissioners choice of project from their states,
while some unviable ones have been cancelled. He stated that some mobilized
contractors are now returning back to site.
The commissioner
said there is no employment currently in NDDC as many staffs are on the
payroll, emphasizing that the commission need more of civil engineers when
compared to only four among the twenty six engineers employed by the commission
in Delta State.
He urged Isoko
people to be mindful of every project in their community and stop the youth
from demanding money from contractors working in the area. Dr Ifowodo
commended the president general of Isoko development union for his doggedness
in the affairs of the union.
Responding on
behalf of Isoko nation, Chief Iduh Amadhe, president general of Isoko
development union, commended Dr Ogaga Ifowodo for the town hall meeting even as
he urged him to do more for the Isoko people. Amadhe said, priority
projects such as Araya Bible site road and the 132 KVA transmission line from
Ughelli to Ozoro substation be given more attention, adding that the equipments
received for the accreditation of engineering faculty Delta State university
Oleh campus, was motivated by the commissioner.
Others who spoke
during the interactive session demanded for immediate attention to the plight
of Isoko people suffering several hazards overtime due to negligence by NDDC
contractors. In attendance are royal majesty and president generals from
various Isoko communities, representatives of several union members, the women
wing and executive members of Isoko development union, other women groups,
clergy men and a cross section of the youths.
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