NDDC Warns The People Of Niger Delta Against Contract

The management of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), says it did not award any contract for the renovation of classroom blocks at the Government Technical College, Abak in Akwa Ibom.

Ibim Semenatari, the acting managing director of the commission, disclosed this on Saturday at Government Technical College, Abak, when the Akwa Ibom Government complained that the contract was abandoned.

Aniekan Umanah, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, had taken the Senate Committee on NDDC and Amnesty Programme on projects inspection to show the abandoned classroom blocks.

Mr. Umanah alleged that the commission came into the school and removed the roof of four classroom blocks leaving the students to suffer in the rain and under the scorching sun.

The commissioner said the contract was abandoned a year ago, complaining that delicate science facilities and computer sets were damaged during the process of transferring them.

Responding, Mrs. Semenatari explained that the contract was not listed in the books of NDDC.

Mrs. Semenatari further explained that any contract awarded by the commission usually carries NDDC signpost at the site.

In his reaction, the Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC and Amnesty Programme, Peter Nwaoboshi, cautioned the people of Niger Delta to beware of fake contract letters purportedly issued by the NDDC.

The committee chairman said there had been reports of fake contract letters issued by unscrupulous persons in the name of NDDC.

At the inspection of the 2km Edienne Abak – Ikot Ekan Road, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the level of work done since 2012 when the contract was awarded.

Mr. Nwaoboshi directed the contractor to return to site immediately or refund the mobilisation of N48 million earlier collected from NDDC.

The NDDC engineers had informed the committee that the contractor had completed earth work and one kilometre of stone base before abandoning the work.

Mr. Nwaoboshi, who was baffled at the contract sum for the project, put at N248 million, and the level of work done, said, “I am really surprised, I am disappointed.”

The committee, however, said that it was impressed by the quality of work done at the NDDC prototype hostel complex for the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).

(NAN)