FEC approves N16bn for NDDC headquarters

To prosecute commission’s 30 contractors

By Abdullahi M. Gulloma

Abuja

Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved N16 billion for the construction of the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
This was disclosed by the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Usani Usani, at the end of the Council’s meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the headquarters, to be located in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, has a completion period of 52 weeks.
The minister also told journalists that the East – West road project in the Niger Delta region was “designed to fail,” but that the present administration was trying to revive it.
He said the present administration has made significant progress in the past two years to correct the fundamental errors in the design of the East-West road, for which over N30 billion would be needed to complete.
“If the project, started more than a decade ago and in 24 months we have made the progress we have made on that project, correcting even the construction deficits in the area, then I think you should be able to appreciate what we are doing. When you talk of N16 billion as if it is so relevant in completing the East West road, I wish to tell you that the outstanding certificate on the East West road amounts to N30 billion.
“So, if we put N16 billion there, in fact one and the other are not substitutes. Two of them are essential infrastructure projects that must go on, so it doesn’t mean that if we put that money on the East – West road then it satisfies the needs of housing the NDDC,” he said.

Leave a Reply