Vanguard (Lagos)
Jimitota Onoyume
31 October 2009
Lagos — PROJECTS worth N180 billion Naira is to be awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Managing Director of the commission, Mr. Chibuzor Ugwoha, who gave this indication at a meeting with consultants and contractors of the commission said the Federal Government had asked the commission to award the contracts.
According to him, this is the single highest volume of projects by the commission since its establishment in 2000 and completely geared at sustaining the gains of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's amnesty programme for the region.
"These projects have just been approved for award by the Federal Executive Council," he stated, adding that the commission has sufficient funds or budgetary provisions to pay the mobilizations for all the contracts.
He assured the contractors that they would be immediately mobilized to site.
"We have held discussions with some banks who are ready to partner with us so that the bottlenecks with APG process are eliminated," he said.
He told the contractors that President Yar'Adua has given the commission clear directives to embark on only mega projects which can generate employment and boost economic activities in the region.
"Projects such as 1km roads, clearing of water hyacinths, building of health centers, building of classroom blocks, painting of hostels, and supply of desks to schools should be handled by the local and state governments," he added.
Mr. Ugwoha directed the contractors to deliver quality jobs promptly and warned that the era of poor quality jobs by contractors was over.
"A poorly executed contract or project is wastage of scarce resources," he stated, adding that it was counter-productive to developmental efforts.
He stated that the commission will no longer accept poorly executed projects and warned that contractors and consultants involved in such projects will be sanctioned.
The Managing Director reiterated that the commission will ensure accountability, transparency and value for money in all contract award processes and warned that there will be no compromise on integrity and fair play.
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