Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has advised the new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to stop using political contractors for Projects that the NDDC has become a cash cow for politicians.
Governor Wike gave the charge when the new chairman of NDDC board, Mrs. Lauretta Ifeanyi Onochie led other members of the board, on a courtesy visit to him at Government House, Port Harcourt on Friday.
The governor urged the Mrs. Onochie-led board to embrace the conceptualization and implementation of projects like the construction of highways with bridges to link States.
“I read what you said that things will be done differently. I want to believe that you’re sincere. Sometimes, I feel ashamed where I come from. We talk about underdevelopment, but look at the amount of money that has passed through NDDC, then look at the projects on ground.”
“There is what we call regional development projects that can link up two states, those are the kind of things NDDC should go for and give it to competent contractors. Leave these political contractors. Leave all these portfolio contractors. Leave them alone. You have come to my state and you have seen what I have done.
“If I didn’t use Julius Berger and had used these political contractors, you won’t have seen anything here. Of course, you know how expensive Julius Berger is. From 2019 till now, we have done 12 Flyovers by Julius Berger. You know how much we are talking about and you can replicate that. Even though they are expensive, but you’ll see the value.”
“NDDC has become a cash cow for politicians. Look, part of the money NDDC lost in this state just to win election here. N10B wasted. N10B you could have used to construct a mega project in the State.”
