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Nigeria: NDDC to Spend N46 Billion On Capital Projects This Year
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Leadership (Abuja)
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has set aside N46 billion for capital projects this year, the NDDC Commissioner representing Ondo State, Dr Ibukun Omotehinse, has said.
Omotehinse told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Igbokoda in Ondo State that the money set aside was part of the effort to comply with the Niger Delta master plan.
Omotehinse said that of the N46 billion, N2.1 billion would be spent in the completion of ongoing projects.
He also said that the commission had earmarked N2.5 billion for the execution of new projects, which had taken off with the invitation of tenders from contractors.
"The first master plan-based projects to be executed in Ondo State includes roads, bridges and jetties, flood and erosion control, channelisation of canals and construction of houses and water projects.
Omotehinse said that all the projects that were executed since the establishment of the NDDC were interim projects because they were not based on the master plan.
The commissioner also explained that there were some of the projects in the master plan that would connect two or more states together.
According to him, such projects include construction of connecting electricity and dredging of canals.
He said that 44 projects valued at N400 million were recently inaugurated by the NDDC in Ondo State.
The commissioner said that the projects included primary schools, provision of instructional materials, 24 footbridges in 22 communities, landing jetties, roads and health-related facilities.
Omotehinse said the projects had gone a long way in improving the socio-economic development of the people.
The NDDC according to him was considering plan to resettle some persons, who were rendered homeless during the Ilaje and Ijaw ethnic crisis in which 20 towns and villages were destroyed.
Omotehinse said the government had been able to resettle some of the people through the construction of some housing units.
He said the major problem being confronted by the government in embarking on mass construction of houses in the area was the high level of poverty of the people.
He said that this was because the people would find it difficult to purchase the houses as government was not ready to donate them to the people.
Omotehinse said the NDDC was determined to provide facilities in the oil producing area of the state to increase the quality of life of the people.
Mr. Ogbonosonu Olugbeje, a community leader at Etugbo in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, confirmed that the commission built some classrooms for the primary school in the town.
He said the measure had provided a conducive environment for learning.
Other communities that benefited from the NDDC school projects include Idogun, Ojumole and Ehinmore.
A member of Akata community also in Ilaje Local Government Area, Mr. Akinwale Akinnuoye, praised the commission for constructing a N50 million landing jetty in the town.
He urged the commission to extend electricity and access road to the community.
Master Tolu Ikuomehin, a pupil of the Community Primary School at Ojumole also in Ilaje Local Government Area, commended the commission and the state government for rebuilding schools and houses destroyed during the Ilaje-Ijaw crisis.
He, however, urged NDDC to build staff quarters for their teachers to enable them reside in the community permanently.
Another community leader, Chief Ehinmore Omolafe also commended the NDDC for the construction of footbridges in 22 communities in the riverside areas.
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He pointed out that the measure would enable the people to move freely from one place to the other during the rainy season. (NAN)
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