NDDC Targets Projects Completion, Policy Review

The new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said yesterday that it would focus on projects completion to make them useful to the people.

The Managing Director of the commission, Dr Christian Oboh, disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt.

Oboh said that the commission would reverse its budgeting system to ensure timely completion of such projects.

The new board of the commission assumed duty on December 1, 2011 after its inauguration by President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Projects have been awarded since the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

“We intend to focus on completion and this we will do by reversing the budgeting system.

“We intend to provide for projects adequately so that most projects whose life cycle or completion cycle is less than two years can be funded and we complete them and then remove them from our list.

“Rather than just providing pea nuts and contractors do not have adequate funds to work and deliver projects. This is our focus.’’

Oboh said when the new board of the commission assumed office, it met a system that was stagnant, a situation, which he said, made the task of running the commission  slightly difficult.

“It has been three months since we came on board, it has been a difficult task. Basically, we met a system where things were actually not moving. But God willing, we have been able to move to the next level.

“We have received the cooperation of the board and the staff. We have also received the cooperation of stakeholders in the Niger Delta.

“God willing, we are trying to facilitate the process of awarding some jobs for 2011.’’

The NDDC managing director said the commission was getting the 2012 budget ready for the National Assembly and that soon, the culture in the commission would run on its own.