By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Communities in Akwa Ibom have called on the Niger Delta Development Commission to expedite actions in completing its projects abandoned in the state, describing as alarming the spate of abandoned projects in the state.
The communities in their separate calls, lamented that the positive effect of the interventionist agency has not been felt by the intended beneficiaries with some of the projects having been abandoned for as long as 15 years.
Many of their leaders who spoke with newsmen stated that the trend has denied the region and its people better and improved standard of living and dividends as oil producing region.
For instance, a comprehensive water project in Nduo Ndu Okon Eket village in Eket Local Council awarded in 2017 to Mangrove Swam Limited to provide portable drinking water for the people is far from coming true due to the none completion of the water project, exposing community members to water burn diseases and other health implications.
According to residents, the sign post bearing the contractor’s vital information on site has been deliberately removed by the contractors so they could not be traced.
In Ikot itak in Ibeno Local Council, the hopes and aspirations of commuting on a good motorable road has been dashed as the Inua Eyet Ikot-Itak Ukpa Okposo road and a bridge awarded to movanni global services limited and cadlink associates consultant is still uncompleted after four years.
Awarded in 2017 the road project was the meant to link over Twenty eastern riverine communities in ibeno Host community to ExxonMobil.
Meanwhile, residents of Enwang, headquarters of Mbo LGA have blamed the sheer number of abandoned NDDC projects on top PDP members in the state who abandoned the projects after collecting mobilization fees.
The projects included, roads, water and schools.
A community leader, Mr George Antai said, “Enwang community is littered with so many abandoned projects by the intervention agency. It’s appalling that some of the contrcators are PDP bigwigs who abandoned the projects after collecting mobilization fees.
” We appeal to the Commission to order the contractors to sites to complete these projects. We have over five roads , blocks of classrooms and water projects that have been taken over by tall grasses.”
Also, youths drawn from Eastern Obolo Local Council have lamented abandoned projects by the NDDC threatening that the neglect of the areas by federal agencies could lead to a crisis situation if the situation is not addressed
Their spokesperson, Jonah Adasi said “the neglect of the oil bearing areas of Eastern Obolo since the creation of NDDC has brought untold hardship on the people”.
A community leader Mr Ita Udoh blamed the abandonment of projects and the poor performance of the NDDC on lack of project supervision, commitment and synergy with various state governments across Niger delta region.
Udoh, a former commissioner for environment in the state called for a complete overhauling of the NDDC through the ongoing forensic audit for the wellbeing of rich Niger delta region.
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