Gov. Emmanuel: ‘We ‘ll Resist NDDC Opening More Roads In Akwa Ibom’

• Says NDDC Has Over 100 Abandoned Projects in Akwa Ibom

By Akanimo Kufre (Uyo)

Worried by the spate of abandonment, poor execution, distortion and duplication of developmental projects undertaken by Federal government Agencies and Commissions, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has called for collaboration between the Agencies and benefiting state governments in the execution of development projects to ensure quality service delivery.

Governor Emmanuel made the call at Ibom International Airport while fielding questions from Government House Correspondents shortly on arrival from Abuja.

He  told The New Diplomat that the trend is worrisome to the Governors of the benefiting states and that such collaboration has become expedient to harness development and ensure quality control in project execution.

“We in the Niger Delta are frowning at the way Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is distorting our development programmes. In Akwa Ibom State for instance, we have over one hundred project interventions at various levels that have not been completed by NDDC. Some of them are 400m, 500m and very few are up to 5km.”

“They just execute the earth works with no drainage and the roads are not completed but leave untold hardship on the people. So we are calling on the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government to prevail on the Agencies and Commissions to sit with the state government and plan how to utilise the money in line with the development plan of each state.”

He explained that the state government is maintaining uncompleted  Federal roads and mentioned the Abak – Ikot Abasi, Aba – Ikot Ekpene roads as well as  transmission line between Ikot Ekpene and Ikot Abasi Local Government Areas which have been abandoned for 6years and urged NDDC to complete the projects rather than distort the state government’s development plan.

“We hear that NDDC is planning to open more roads, if they do that we would resist it because that would distort our development plan. We have a structure and systems that are running. Let them come under that structure so that we can anchor development together.” Governor Emmanuel stated.

Mr Emmanuel who  maintained that Governors of the Niger Delta states were of the view that similar approach should be evolved in the management of ecological funds said  ” if  they are going to help in the development the state they should partner rather than distort the laid out development plans” .

On hand to receive the Governor were Secretary to the State Government Sir Etekamba Umoren, Dean of Commissioners and Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare Dr Glory Edet as well as  other Members of the State Executive Council.