Project verification has reduced NDDC’s N2 trillion indebtedness, says Acting MD

ACTING Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Joi Nunieh, has said the commission’s over N 2 trillion indebtedness to contractors and consultants had been considerably reduced.

This is even as Concerned Citizens of Kula kingdom in Rivers State urged the interventionist agency to thoroughly investigate its projects in its communities valued at over N6.3 billion.

Nunieh told a delegation of some chiefs who visited her office in Port Harcourt yesterday that the commission had empowered its project assessment committee to begin visits to sites in communities across the Niger Delta region.

She explained that through NDDC’s findings in the just concluded contract verification exercise, the commission had been able to reduce its over N2 trillion indebtedness to contractors and consultants considerably.

Nunieh stated that the Interim Management Committee (IMC) would not succumb to the pressure from contractors, who want to be paid even before the validation of their claims.

She urged the Kula chiefs to support the management in ensuring sustainable development of the oil-rich area, adding that the story of the region would not be complete without a mention of the contributions of Kula as an oil-producing community.

Led by former PANDEF spokesperson, Anabs Sara-Igbe, the appealed for the investigation, reconsideration and completion of all abandoned NDDC projects in the kingdom.

They listed some of the projects for investigation as the N3.9 billion land reclamation and embankment with five jetties in Kula; construction of 11-kilometres internal roads awarded at the cost of N2.4 billion; administrative blocks of a community secondary school, among others.

Besides, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman, South-South, Hillard Eta, has declared his support for the IMC, saying his decision to backtrack was based on its performance so far.

This comes on the heels of more endorsements by leaders across the geopolitical zone that have been rallying support for the board.

He spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to members of IMC in Port Harcourt.