Editor
RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Wike has said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is a cash cow for politicians in the country.
Wike made the assertion on Tuesday during the commissioning of Police Barracks, Special Protection Unit (SPU) base 6 at Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe pointed out that problem of the commission was not just the Niger Delta region but entire country.
His words: “NDDC has been a cash cow for politicians; you will see them competing for who will be the Managing Director, Executive Director (Finance), Executive Director (Projects).
“These are people who will make sure money is available for politics. You have portfolio contractors from Abuja. Every now and then, the MD will be running to Abuja.”
The governor accused some National Assembly members of lobbying for which projects to be included in the NDDC budget so as to divert the fund through the backdoor.
Making reference to the promise by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, that the NDDC would change to meet the aspirations of the people of the region, Wike said it is time for the commission to work.
He explained that the problem with the NDDC is lack of synergy with the state governments in the region.
The governor disclosed that he filed a lawsuit against the NDDC, accusing it of picking up a project in the state without liaising with the State, thereby distorting government’s project plans.
“I took NDDC to court and we defeated them. You enter somebody’s state, you don’t even know the development plan of the state and start distorting the development plan of the state.
“The road you want to do is not your road. You won’t liaise with the state to say ‘look what project do you want in this state?
“If you ask all the nine states in the Niger Delta and say, State A, what kind of project do you want NDDC to execute? We are not interested in who will be the contractor. Our interest is that we are synergizing with you so that you don’t repeat those things we are doing.”
SPU base 6 building project was carried out by NDDC. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the commission Spokesman, Ibitoye Abosede, the building is a 66-flat residential quarters and administrative block for police officers in the state.
