By Mike Jones
ASABA/Nigeria: A former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Olisa Enebeli Imegwu has congratulated the Member representing Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, and Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for the recent successful amendment of the 2000 Act of the operations of the commission, and called him to ensure that the 70 percent earmarked for already awarded projects is implemented.
In a statement made available to Ndokwa Reporters, he said that when one does a good act, he need to be praised, so that he could do more. He said that the amendment of the Act will benefit not only the Niger Delta, but the entire country.
.”This feat you achieved shows you are a Senator for all Nigerians as it will benefit the South East, South West, North West, South South etc where NDDC does business. For example, prompt remittance of funds, penalties for defaulters and clarification as to representation on NDDC Board, are of general application nationwide”.
He however, said that despite the success of the amendment, he reminded the senator, that more attention should be paid to the area that lays the golden egg, and appealed that section 7(a-d) should be implemented, stating that that section states that development should be centred in the Niger Delta Oil Producing Areas.
He reminded the senator that the NDDC, currently has earmarked 70 percent of her budget on already awarded, and this should include roads that are within Ndokwa nation.
He specifically pointed out that in Ndokwa nation roads such as the UtagbaUno/Ugliamai/Iselegu/Onuaboh/Inyi/Okpai Road(2)Aballa Obodo/Aballa Uno/Okpai Rd (3) Okpai 4 miles Shore Protection projects awarded over 6yrs ago, remain either abandoned or not funded.
Hon Imegwu lamented the situation of Ndokwa East, as the worst hit by lack of road development and needs urgent attention, and the senator is in a position to set the record straight to ensure that the awarded projects are funded.
He expressed worry that the commission is executing new projects, which is 30 percent stated in the Act, abandoning the already awarded projects.
“Our question is what has happened to the 70% NDDC budget earmarked for awarded projects since it appears that the 30% is being done for NEW ONES.”
The statement further stated that the Senator should use his position to ensure that the 70 percent awarded projects, yet to be funded to be funded so that these projects will be executed as it will alleviate the pains of the people whom he represent in the senate.
He further called the attention of the senator, that since the inception of the NDDC, no Ndokwa man had been considered fit to be in the board of the commission, and advised he use his ingenuity to see that the abandoned projects and issue of an Ndokwa man been in the board is resolved.
“The people of Delta North, particularly Ndokwa Nation, appeals that you apply same ingenuity for the amendment of the Act to implementation of projects awarded over 6 yes ago as well help us get appointed to the NDDC Board”.
