Two years after the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere laid the foundation stone for the construction of a permanent NDDC State office in Uyo, the project has been abandoned and taken over by the reptile.
Funds earmarked to give Akwa Ibom a permanent NDDC state office have allegedly been diverted to fund the managing director, Nsima Ekere’s governorship election.
The project site located at Commercial Layout, Atan Offot, Uyo has been abandoned with workers complaining that neither the contractor who was awarded the contract nor any NDDC staff have visited the site in the past three months.
According to the Igbere Tv who visited the site, Workers who spoke to our reporter said the contractor, Brett Nigeria Limited, has complained bitterly that since Ekere left after laying the foundation stone, no money has been released to his company for the job while officials of the commission insist money for the project was released and the contractor mobilised in full.
The NDDC office in the state is located in a rented apartment in Ewet Housing Estate.
In contrast, Ekere’s predecessor, Ibim Semenitari, gave Rivers State a brand new NDDC state office in less than ten months in office as Acting MD while Akwa Ibom, which is the highest contributor to NDDC has no permanent state office even with an indigene of the state as Managing Director.
A Director of the Construction company handling the project, who pleaded anonymity, lamented that the NDDC approved the release of the funds but Nsima Ekere diverted and converted the money to his personal use and all attempts to have audience with the NDDC boss towards resolving the financial crisis to enable the project kick-off have been abortive.
He said that each time he goes to Mr. Ekere’s office or lodge to see him, his security aides insist Mr. Ekere does not want to see him, a situation he said has affected the company’s ability to continue with the project.
When Igbere tv contacted the Akwa Ibom state government on the development, the state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Charles Udoho said “it’s sad commentary that a public officials representing the interest of a state that is the highest producer of crude oil and the largest contributor to the financial purse of the nation has decided to play politics with the position given to him in trust for his people instead of pursuing a development agenda.”
He lamented the total neglect of Akwa Ibom by NDDC, despite the favourable environment created by the Udom Emmanuel led administration.
Mr. Udoh said this is despite the fact that the NDDC’s budget size is about that of 9 states with additional income coming to the agency from 2% of the earnings of all multinational oil companies in the region.
Also, a media assistant to the Governor who didn’t want to be named said:
“Mr. Ekere’s claim of not having the support of the Akwa Ibom State Government is unfounded. The state government has provided all they required from us for the NDDC office Project. The land for the structure was allocated by the State Government in early 2017 to demonstrate the state government’s willingness to partner with the Commission for the good of the state.” he said.
All efforts by Igbere Tv to obtain a reaction from Nsima Ekere was abortive as a phone call to his Press secretary, Inem Inah, was not picked up nor returned. SMS sent to his line was also not replied.
