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Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has made a strong case for a comprehensive audit of all abandoned projects that litter the nooks and crannies of the states that make up the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He made the call yesterday when he received in audience at the Government House, Owerri, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abubakar Momoh, who came to Imo State on official duty with his key officials.
The Eastern Updates reports that asides the call for a comprehensive audit of all abandoned projects in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the NDDC states, Governor Uzodinma further suggested that the amnesty programme of the ministry should be strengthened to enable the people, particularly the youths of the region, have commensurate value from the programme.
Governor Uzodinma requested the minister to mop up all federal allocations meant for the region and deploy them appropriately to ensure that the area is given what is due and appropriate to it in terms of infrastructure.
He promised to continue to support and partner with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the NDDC and other agencies under the ministry, to achieve the expected goals.
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He called on the youths of the Niger Delta region to desist from vandalising the NDDC’s projects or federal government’s assets in the region, appealing to the Federal Government to intensify efforts at creating employment and other opportunities that would make life more meaningful for the teeming youths of the region.
Governor Uzodinma challenged the ministry and the NDDC to take serious interest in the documentation and completion of the abandoned projects in the region, noting that, “where all the abandoned projects are completed, the region will be more than 80 percent developed.”
He expressed delight to receive the minister and his team in Imo State and commended Momoh on the changes he has so far initiated in the ministry since he assumed office.
The Governor, however, sympathised with the minister on the shoddy nature some projects were implemented in his ministry before now, as well as the ubiquitous abandonment of projects, which the minister has met on ground on assumption of office, and encouraged him to remain as focused today as he was on assumption of office.
Earlier, while informing the Governor on why they were in Imo State, Momoh said that they came “to inspect ongoing projects of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission and to solicit greater partnership and cooperation of the governors of the nine states of the region.”
The minister maintained that “the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the NDDC are never in competition with the states, rather, they are in partnership for the progress and development of the region.”
He acknowledged the existence of many challenges, especially in the area of abandoned projects, but promised that his ministry and the commission are on course to change the narrative.
