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Tag: NDDC

  • Jonathan’s verdict on NDDC

    The verdict looks like the hard truth. It really is not far from it. From Akwa Ibom to Cross, Edo, Delta and Rivers, there are litany of projects, either uncompleted or abandoned. Roads have become impassable because earth work was done on them but tarring was delayed. Drainage systems were started but left midstream. Things are just not the way they are.

    So, when President Goodluck Jonathan said little progress has been made despite the billions expended on the Niger Delta through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), he was not far from the truth. He said development in the region has not justified the quantum of funds allocated to the region, especially through the various intervention agencies over the years.

    What the president failed to say was that some people have helped themselves with the money that would have brought succour to the pauperised people of the Niger Delta. Jonathan, who spoke at the inauguration of the Board of the NDDC headed by Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw at the Council Chamber of Aso Rock presidential villa, added that most people in the Niger Delta felt that NDDC has not lived up to expectations over the years.

    He thus told the Board: “You have a lot of responsibility and for those of you from the Niger Delta who are even there, you know that the history of intervening agencies is legion. From three per cent to one intervention or the other, if you aggregate the total amount of money the Federal Government has spent on this agency is enormous and I don’t believe on ground that we have something to show very clearly.”

    The president urged the Board not to award any new contracts until all the ongoing projects are completed. The President noted that NDDC has too many ongoing projects.

    “A body like NDDC should not just go into a voyage of contracts procurement but ongoing projects must be completed for people to benefit before new ones are awarded.

    “There are just too many ongoing projects and we believe that you don’t even have enough manpower to manage the ongoing projects,” the president added.

    The President said the former Board was dissolved because instead of it to work with the management to make sure that people from the area benefit from the NDDC, they were busy quarrelling over money.

    He said: “The money does not belong to the board members nor the staff, the money belongs to the people yet they were quarrelling. If the money that belongs to the people is being spent the way it should, there will be no reason why people should quarrel.

    “There are guidelines in terms of procurement and managing of funds and if the MD or ED is doing things contrary to expectations, there are lines of reporting, there are lines of authority and I will expect you to follow.”

    The Board is unaware of the shortcomings and criticisms that have trailed the commission over the years.

    It is thus its choice to either make or mar history. It will be stupid of the Board to engage in rat race and mess the people up once again. This is the time to sit up and act.

    The people are obviously tired of the drama and tragedy that the NDDC has been. They no longer want to see the MD and Chairman of Board fighting. They no longer want to hear that the Board chair has spent millions on black magic. They no longer want to see abandoned projects everywhere. They no longer want to see interventions in wrong area. They no longer want to see the Procurement Act being considered inferior to the NDDC Manual. They no longer want Board members striving for contracts to be awarded to them or their cronies.

    What the people want to see are a set of management and Board working in unison; laws being obeyed; the people being taken first in all decisions and selfish interest being buried for general interest. After all, they are there to serve and not to eat! And to Jonathan, this should be the last time he would lament. If anyone breaks the rule, he should pay for it not just by being sacked but facing the law. The people’s money should not be stolen or mismanaged. Never again.

  • Ondo NDDC commissioner cleared

    Ondo NDDC commissioner cleared

    The Senate yesterday cleared the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman in Okitipupa, Mr. Amuwa Benson, as the Ondo State nominee on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    This laid to rest the controversy over who will represent the state on the board.

  • Jonathan to NDDC: complete ongoing projects

    Jonathan to NDDC: complete ongoing projects

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged the new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to complete the ongoing projects before awarding new contracts.

    He gave the advice when inaugurating the new board, led by Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, at the Presidential Villa.

    Noting that there were many uncompleted projects in the area, President Jonathan said the value of the completed projects do not reflect the huge money pumped into the commission.

    He said: “For the incoming board, you have a lot of challenges. I admonish you that there are many issues about the NDDC. The Niger Delta people feel that the NDDC is not doing what it is supposed to do. There are many ongoing projects. A body like NDDC should not just go into a voyage of contracts procurement. Ongoing projects must be completed to enable the people benefit, before new ones are awarded.

    “There are many ongoing projects and we believe you don’t even have enough manpower to manage them. You have a lot of responsibilities and for those of you from the Niger Delta, who are even there, you know that the history of intervening agencies is legion.

    “From three per cent to one intervention or the other, if you aggregate the total amount of money the Federal Government has spent on this agency, it is enormous. I don’t believe on ground we have something to show clearly.”

    The President went on: “People are inquisitive now, the society is becoming more open and of course, the freedom of press laws and so on.”

    Jonathan said the former board was dissolved because it was quarrelling over money instead of working hard to provide infrastructure for the benefit of the people.

    He said: “The money does not belong to the board members. It belongs to the people, yet they were quarrelling. If the money, which belongs to the people, is being spent the way it should, there will be no reason people should quarrel.”

    Other members of the new board include Mr. Dan Abia (Managing Director); Itotenaan Ogiri (ED, Finance and Administration), Tuoyo Omatsulu (ED Projects) from Akwa Ibom and Rivers states; Ball Oyarede (Bayelsa); Ephraim Etete (Rivers); Etim Inyang Jnr. (Akwa Ibom); Adah Andeshi (Cross River); Tom Amioku (Delta); Samuel Nwogu (Abia); Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo); Suleiman Sa’d (Northcentral); Abdumalik Mahmud (Northeast); Enikuomehin Olorungbonju (Ondo); and Mark Ward (Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS).

  • Imo varsity students ask NDDC for more

    Imo varsity students ask NDDC for more

    They are returning to meet a transformed institution. But students of the Imo State University (IMSU), like Oliver Twist, are asking for more from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which built a 174-room hostel for them. They would like the commission to furnish the hostel, reports SAMPSON UMAMKA

    WHEN they return, students of the Imo State University (IMSU) will be shocked by how their school has transformed. While they were away, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) inaugurated the 174-room proto-type hostel it built for the institution. The hostel was inaugurated with fanfare last July 18. The last NDDC board chaired by Dr. Tarilah Tebepah handed over the hostel to the university, which hitherto operated as a non-residential institution.

    Now, the university is seeking to consummate its romance with the NDDC as the students cannot occupy the hostel because it has not been furnished. Consequently, the students are appealing to the NDDC to finish what it started.

    President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) Christian Ogbu told CAMPUSLIFE in Owerri, the Imo State capital, that the commission should complement its efforts in building modern hostels in universities and polytechnics in the Niger Delta by furnishing the completed ones.

    He said the NDDC hostel in his university should not be left to fallow. “We appeal to the incoming board of the NDDC to see the furnishing” of our hostel, he said, as a priority,” Ogbu said. The hostel, he said, would provide convenience for the students and also boost their self-esteem when they move into the facility.

    The SUG’s Director of Information, Ekene Ahaneku, said the students were looking up to the new NDDC board to help them so that they can be free from the antics of “shylock” landlords and estate managers. “It’s a great feeling seeing this magnificent structure built by NDDC to free our students from the strangle-hold of private hostel developers,” he said.

    President of the National Association of Imo State Students Raphael Okwara said NDDC’s intervention in the IMSU accommodation crisis was timely. He said a situation where students were forced to live off-campus made them susceptible to extraneous influences such as cultism and other vices.

    “Some landlords take advantage of the situation to provide sub-standard accommodation at cut-throat rates.In many cases, such accommodation lack the required atmosphere for learning as they are usually in high density areas of the town where noise pollution is a constant factor. Besides, they do not provide basic amenities such as water and electricity,” Okwara said.

    Stakeholders in the university’s host community are also banking on the new NDDC board to help furnish the hostel.

    In an interview with our correspondent, an elder in the community Chief Ernest Egeonu, urged the in-coming board to focus on the rapid development of infrastructure in the region to give vigour to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He praised the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta for confirming the nominations of Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw and Bassey Dan-Abia, a lawyer, as Chairman and Managing Director of NDDC. He said: “Niger Delta needs the fatherly guidance of Senator Ewa-Henshaw and the achievement-oriented drive of Dan-Abia, both of whom have a track record of performance and delivery on set goals.”

    Egeonu noted that Dan-Abia’s “sterling performance” during his tenure as the Akwa Ibom State representative on the NDDC board. “He contributed immensely to the urbanisation of Esit Eket, with roads, bridges and other social amenities. I trust that he will now replicate this achievement in the nine Niger Delta states as a true Methodist who works in the spirit of Wesley brothers,” he said.

    Egeonu said the combination of Ewa-Henshaw, Dan-Abia and other quality board members from across the region would take the Commission to greater heights. He charged them to revive all the abandoned projects in the nine states of the region and jump-start the Niger Delta East-West Coastal Road whose design had been completed and handed over to the Federal Government.

    He asked the new board to review the procedures for funding its projects as some of the banks through which the contractors were mobilised often introduced stringent conditions that frustrated their speedy execution. He also advised the board to reposition some key directorates, such as agriculture, commercial and industrial development, to enhance their performance. “Their score-card, as seen in the eyes of the public, are the failed rice farms and battered Mazda buses,” he said.

  • NDDC MD appointment: Orashi youths lift embargo on oil fields  

    Orashi Youths Organization in Rivers State yesterday lifted the embargo it placed on the oil fields belonging to their local government area when it became clear that their candidate, Chief Dan Abia, was accepted as the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The youth body, last month placed restriction on the activities of oil companies operating in their area, demanding that all oil companies in the area must support Chief Abia for the appointment as MD of NDDC.

    Orashi is made of four oil producing Local Governments in Rivers State including Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Abua/Odual and Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government areas.

    The group thanked President Jonathan for backing Chief Abia and his subsequent clearance by the National House of Assembly who approved him as the MD of NDDC, saying he is the best man for the job.

    The President of Orashi youths, Comrade Napoleon Adah, said the youths had planned to disrupt activities of the oil companies in the area if Chief Dan Abia was not given the opportunity to serve the region as the MD.

    Comrade Adah said: “We ordered that all the oil companies operating should not make use of our oil wells because some of them are not supporting our interest. With the appointment of our candidate as the MD of NDDC, we hereby lift the embargo.

    “The appointment of Chief Dan Abia is for the best interest of Niger Delta region. He is not a new person when it comes to policy and management of NDDC. His experience in the commission is the more reason why we are happy about his appointment.

    “As oil producing local governments, we are a strong-hold in Rivers State that is why we supported Chief Abia as to maintain peace in our oil reach communities because we have decided not to allow our oil to be tapped if our candidate did not emerge as the MD of NDDC.”

  • Mark: NDDC has consistently failed

    Mark: NDDC has consistently failed

    Senate President David Mark said yesterday the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has consistently failed to perform.

    He urged the Senate Committee on Niger Delta to ensure that the commission performed its function well.

    Mark’s remark followed the debate among senators on the confirmation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s nominees for NDDC’s board members.

    The matter divided the Senate yesterday.

    Though the committee, which screened the nominees, recommended their confirmation, two senators from Rivers State – Magnus Abe and Senator Wilson Ake – objected.

    The chairman of the screening committee, James Manager, presented the report for the Senate to consider and confirm Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (Cross River, chairman), Bassey Dan-Abia (Akwa Ibom, managing director), Itotenaan Henry Ogiri (Rivers, executive director (ED), Finance and Admin.), Tuoyo Omotsulu (Delta, E. D. Projects), Ball Turofade Oyarede (Bayelsa), Chief Ephraim Sobere Etete (Rivers), Etim Inyang Jnr (Akwa Ibom), Adah Paul Andeshi (Cross River), Sir Tom Amioku (Delta), Samuel Okezie Nwogu (Abia), Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo), Maj.-Gen. Suleiman B. Said (Niger, Northcentral) and Alhaji Abdulmalik Mahmud (Northeast).

    Manager said the committee found the nominees “worthy in character and in learning” to occupy the positions they were nominated for.

    But Wilson Ake, who represents Rivers West, objected.

    He said his written objection and Abe’s (Rivers South East) on the confirmation of Ogiri and Etete were not reflected in the report.

    When Mark asked Manager why the objections were not reflected in the report, the senator said the only objection the committee received was from Abe concerning the confirmation of Ogiri.

    He said Ake did not raise any objection, adding that he verbally pointed out Abe’s objection.

    Ake faulted Manager’s claim, saying his written objection to the confirmation of the two Rivers State nominees could be found in Manager’s office.

    Manager said his committee ignored Abe’s objection because Ogiri did not represent Rivers State alone.

    He said the position was for the nine states in Niger Delta.

    Ake countered that the slot of ED Finance was allocated to Rivers State as an oil producing state.

    He explained that the two senators from Rivers felt that the interest of the state would not be protected if the nominees from the state were allowed to sail through.

    The senator reminded his colleagues of its convention that where two senators from a state object to the confirmation of any nominee from their state, such nominee would not be confirmed.

    The convention, he warned, should not be destroyed “for whatever interest of anybody in this case”.

  • ‘NDDC needs N1tr to fund abandoned projects’

    ‘NDDC needs N1tr to fund abandoned projects’

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) requires over N1 trillion to complete abandoned projects, the Senate said yesterday.

    The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, gave the figure during the screening of the chairman, managing director and other nominees for the NDDC Board.

    Abatemi-Usman said the members of the committee were shocked when they were confronted with the staggering amount during their oversight function to the commission.

    He said the committee members were worried over the litany of abandoned projects dotting the Niger Delta region.

    President Goodluck Jonathan had forwarded the name of Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw and Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia for screening and confirmation as chairman and managing director of the NDDC Board.

    While Ewa-Henshaw was nominated to represent Cross River State in the NDDC, Dan-Abia was named to represent Akwa Ibom State.

    Others, whose names were also sent to the Senate for confirmation,included Itotenaan Henry Ogiri (Executive Director, Finance and Administration) Rivers); Tuoyo Omatsulu (Executive Director, Projects) Delta; Ball Turofade Oyarede (Bayelsa), Chief Ephraim Sobere Etete (Rivers); Etim Inyang Jnr (Akwa Ibom); Adah Paul Andeshi (Cross River) and Sir Tom Amioku (Delta).

    Others are Samuel Okezie Nwogu (Abia); Uchegbu Chidiebere Kyrian (Imo); Maj.-Gen. Suleiman Barau (Northcentral); Alhaji Abdulmaik Mahmud (Northeast); Benson Adegbenro (Ondo) and Mark Ward.

    The senator insited that the Managing Director nominee, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia, should tell the committee how the abandoned projects would be completed and how abandoned projects would become a thing of the past in the commission.

    Dan-Abia, in his response said part of his immediate task, if confirmed would be to set up effective project monitoring committee.

    He noted that with effective project monitoring committee, the commission would identify and complete abandoned projects.

    He added that before the projects were awarded, they would have been valued and properly funded to avoid project abandonment.

    Dan-Abia also said the failure of some of those in leadership positions in the commission to appreciate their roles and functions breeds friction in the commission.

    He noted that the NDDC Act specified the functions of chairman, MD and other board members of the commission, lamenting however that “failure to appreciate what role each person should play causes friction in NDDC”.

  • Edo Assembly suspends two council chiefs

    Edo Assembly suspends two council chiefs

    Hon Roland Alari and Chief Roland Ibierutomwen are currently running from pillar to post to retain their jobs. They were both elected and sworn in the same day as chairmen of Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government areas respectively.

    Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode used to be one local government until Uhunmwode was carved out of it in 1991by the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.

    Both council chiefs have the same fate of being suspended from office by lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly though for separate reasons.

    They also preside over local governments that are yearning for development when compared to other flouring local governments in the state.

    Apart from major highways that criss-cross both local governments, there are no other good roads linking communities except the roads under construction by the state government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Basic amenities like electricity, water, quality healthcare that are supposed to be provided by the local councils are conspicuously absent.

    Chief Ibierutomwen, who is a former lawmaker, was suspended indefinitely for travelling to Italy alongside all elected council officials for the purpose of studying local government administration.

    Trouble started for Chief Ibierutomwen when the Orhionmwon Youth Congress (OYC) caused traffic gridlock on the Benin-Onitsha highway and protesting at the gate of the council secretariat over allegations of corruption.

    Some of their placards read: “Stop looting Orhionmwon treasury,” “Develop Abudu now” and “Probe Ibierutomwen’s trip to Italy now,” among others.

    Leader of the protesting youths, Mr John Osazuwa, said they were informed that Chief Ibierutomwen abandoned his duty at Abudu and travelled to Italy.

    In a petition to Governor Oshiomhole and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the OYC stated that “whereas Orhionmwon prides itself as the foremost oil and gas producing community in Edo State, several communities in the council are neglected. Dilapidated roads, markets, schools and health centres are begging for attention.”

    They called for a probe into the circumstances under which the chairman approved millions of Naira for the trip to Italy to understudy local government administration.

    Some officials of Orhionmwon council told Niger Delta Report that the trip to Italy was approved, but Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lucky James challenged them to show evidence of the approval.

    James, who also absolved the Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu said no state government officials would approve such ‘a funny trip.’

    Meanwhile, his counterpart, Roland Alari was suspended for two months at the first instance for allegedly leading thugs to assault councillors at the legislative chambers and stopped them from removing their leader, Douglas Idahor.

    It was learnt that Alari’s attempt to stop the removal of Douglas was to pre-empt the councillors from commencing impeachment process against him.

    Alari was said to have been at loggerheads with the councillors for not carrying out some resolutions passed by them. The resolutions included buying officials vehicles for principal officials of the house, refurbishing official bus of the councillors to bring them to work from Benin, refurbishing their official residence at Ehor as well as refusal to approve funds for seminars to enable them to improve their competence and legislative duties.

    Sources say the chairman bought official car for Douglas without addressing other resolutions. This, according to the source, caused the councillors to reason that their leader has compromised and become insensitive to their plights.

    Another source said Alari’s trouble started when he refused to provide support for the mobile clinic bought by Hon. Elisabeth Ativie representing Uhunmwode constituency in a bid to lessen her electoral chances in the future.

    It was further learnt that Alari told Ativie that he would not use council fund to support what was supposed to be a constituency project of a lawmaker.

    Besides, the move by Hon. Ativie to ensure the taking over of a health centre at Obadan by the Federal Government was frustrated because Alari allegedly insisted that it was the council fund that was used to build the now-moribund health centre.

    Following the suspension of Alari, the people of Ehor, administrative headquarters of Uhunmwode, have vowed to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to probe past and present leaders who they blamed for the area’s under-development.

    The traditional ruler of Ehor, His Royal Highness (HRH) David Igiehon, traced the under-development of Ehor town and the entire local government area to past local government chairmen who he accused of amassing wealth for themselves.

    He said: “The chairmen that have ruled the local government in the past only went to the council to amass wealth for themselves. The chairmen do not have a residential house within the local government during their time. Though there are only 10 wards in Uhunmwode local government area, these chairmen had formed another illegal Ward 11 where they reside and rule the 10 wards from there.”

    Chairman of the Ehor Development Forum, Mr. David Uduebor who spoke at the first Ehor National Day, said they were jubilant when Uhunmwode was created out of Orhionmwon with Ehor as its headquarters.

    He said: “All sons and daughters of Ehor were joyful over the creation of the Uhunmwode local government area. Our belief was that at last our sufferings and neglect by the Orhionmwon Local Government Area had come to an end.

    “It is sad to state that virtually all previous administrations at the local government headquarters have utterly neglected the development of Ehor town. One wonders where the billions of Naira allocated to this local government have gone to since 1991.

    “You cannot see any development in Ehor town let alone its environs. The Ehor Development Forum says enough is enough. Henceforth, we shall demand to know how Federal Allocations which are published in national dailies are spent. The Freedom of Information Act shall be put into action.

    “The Lucky Igbinedion administration established a pineapple juice industry at Ehor. The buildings were constructed and machinery installed. In a commando type of action, cranes were brought into Ehor and the machines were removed to unknown destination to the amazement of everybody.

    “The government went ahead and sold the purported industry. Till date, as I speak to you, the proposed industry remains a mirage. This is what that utterly neglected people of Ehor will call the only visible state intervention.”

  • NDDC’s quest for ‘quality’ schools

    NDDC’s quest for ‘quality’ schools

    There is still hope for Nigeria. By refusing to overlook poor quality jobs, the NDDC has set a good example for other agencies of government in the country.” That was how Comrade Ibinabo Robinson, a Buguma youth leader, captured the botched inauguration of three projects in his community.

    The elders and youths of Buguma in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State had gathered for the inauguration of the projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Kalabari National College, Buguma. Smiles froze on their faces on being informed that the ceremony because the Acting NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Christy Atako, was not impressed with the job done. She told the Buguma chiefs and the pupils that NDDC would not be associated with projects of questionable quality.

    “We pay attention to quality. So, we will not commission any project that does not meet our standards. If we hand over a sub-standard project, it means that we are defrauding the people,” she said.

    NDDC, she said, would stop contractors who try to deny pupils the benefits of the quality of facilities put in place for them. The community elders saw reason with her. Speaking on the community’s behalf, Chief Daar George praised NDDC for insisting on quality job. He said though his people, especially the pupils, were eager to take charge of the facilities, it was better to wait for the contractor to deliver on quality.

    “We agree that the contractor should come back to finish the job to meet the standards set by NDDC,” he said.

    The school principal, Dr. Gibson Sokari-George, said NDDC gave them a sense of belonging by rehabilitating the school’s dormitory, dining hall, kitchen and the principal’s quarters. Despite the deferment of the inauguration, he said, they were still happy and hopeful.

    In Akwa Ibom State, Dr Atako also refused to inaugurate a laboratory, an assembly hall and classrooms for the Community Secondary School in Ikot Ubom in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, because they were sub-standard.

    Dr. Atako also declined to inaugurate a solar powered water project at Ikot Ekpan also in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area.

    She said: “I was meant to commission this project today but I am disappointed at what I saw. I didn’t believe that contractors could deceive NDDC into inaugurating projects that were so shoddily done”. A visibly angry Dr. Atako added: “I was given the impression that the projects were properly done but what I saw is a far cry from the high standards for which the NDDC is known. I have told the contractors that they must complete these projects according to specifications.” She warned that the contractors stood the risk of being blacklisted if they failed to adhere to the directive.

    The commission, she said, had set standards which it was not prepared to compromise. The need to maintain the standards, she said, made the commission to inspect its projects regularly to confirm the contractors’ claims before payments. “We will always make sure that we inspect every project even if they tell us they have done 100 per cent of the job, we will go there and inspect it before we pay. We also encourage contractors that are doing well,” she said. Despite the development, the village head of Ikot Ekpan, Chief Sunday Emmanuel, said they thought that the contractor had completed the job when they were invited for the ceremony. “We are surprised that the commissioning was stopped because of some deficiencies. Since the Acting MD is not satisfied, we are willing to wait for the contractor to do what is required of him,” he said.

    At the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State, where the NDDC modern hostel complex is awaiting commissioning, the students’ joy was cut short following a pre-commissioning inspection by Dr. Atako who was not impressed with what, she saw. She ordered the contractor back to site.

    She said NDDC’s main concern was the delivery of projects that would make the Niger Delta people happy, adding that the commission would “enforce strict adherence to standards and project specifications. We will not tolerate contractors doing shoddy jobs.”

    Dr Atako expressed dissatisfaction with some aspects of the hostel’s finishing, asking the contractor to rectify the defects within two weeks.

    A major contractor said Dr Atako had woken many of the contractors from slumber, noting: “Some of us are doing our best to meet her expectations. However, it has not been easy as we are also battling with the challenges of funding.”

    Things are looking up as NDDC inaugurated 60 projects in the last three months, indicating that many contractors are getting it right.

    Dr Atako is the happier for it. At the inauguration of the University of Benin hostel, she expressed happiness after going round the complex.

    The modern office and detention complex built for the State Security Service, SSS and the orthopaedic and general surgery complex at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Asaba, the Delta State Capital, also got the thumbs up from Dr Atako for being well executed.

    The FMC’s Medical Director, Dr. Leo Erhunwunsee, thanked the NDDC for the complex, which he described as a magnificent edifice that would aid the work of the medical personnel.

  • Ondo NDDC nominee replaced

    Ondo NDDC nominee replaced

    The Presidency yesterday withdrew Dr. Benson Enikuomehin’s name as the Ondo State nominee on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    It was replaced with that of the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman, Okitipupa Zone, Mr. Amuwa Benson.

    Sources hinged the development on a meeting President Goodluck Jonathan held with Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Enikuomehin represented Ondo State on the commission’s board between 2009 and September, 2011.

    Sources said the change might not be unconnected with the Presidency’s resolution not to return any former member of the board.

    Mimiko arrived Abuja on Monday night on a chartered flight for the meeting. He was accompanied by his chief of protocol and two top government officials.

    The governor said he had no grudge against Enikuomehin but declined to give reasons for the change.

    A source said there were negative reactions to Enikuomehin’s nomination after he was cleared by the Department of State Security (DSS) in Abuja.

    Mimiko, in July, recommended Benson; the incumbent, Mr. Dele Omogbemi; and Enikuomehin to the Presidency for consideration.

    Benson was cleared by DSS last Thursday and his name was sent to the Senate yesterday for ratification.

    Enikuomehin confirmed the change but did not comment on it.

    The Senate Committee on NDDC is expected to begin the screening of the nominees immediately.