The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it is fast tracking the completion of 57 ongoing projects valued at N1.3 trillion spread across the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
The Managing Director of the commission, Dr Christian Oboh, stated this at an interactive session with journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday.
He said the new board had resolved to award fewer contracts and speed up the completion of the 57 ongoing projects inherited from the previous board.
“We have stopped awarding new contracts except when it is absolutely necessary to do so.”
On tenders, Oboh warned contractors to adhere strictly to the due process in applying for contracts from the commission, stressing that “it is no longer going to be business as usual.”
Oboh disclosed that investigation had shown that some staffers of the commission were in the habit of awarding fake tenders to contractors.
“There are tenders flying everywhere, but I can assure you that such tenders are fake.”
According to him, some contractors have come to NDDC presenting tenders which they claim to have paid either N5 million or N10 million for.
He said a staff of NDDC in the Owerri office who was found to be involved in such sharp practices, had been arrested by security agents.
The NDDC boss called for closer collaboration with the media to fast-track the development of the Niger Delta region.
?The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the relationship between the local media and the immediate past NDDC Board had been awry.
?It was alleged in some quarters that the media was responsible for the sacking of that board because it reported the infighting and the sleaze prevalent among the members of the board.
Oboh said journalists being the watchdog of the society, had a major role to play in the development of the region.
?“I solicit the support of the press because the people of the Niger Delta will see NDDC from what you’re telling them, how well we are doing and how badly we are doing and what we need to do.
?“We want to invite the press to support us to the development of the Niger Delta region. It’s a task that Chris Oboh will not just do alone.
?“We need the press to expose contractors that are not doing well, we need the press to expose those of us that are currently occupying the leadership that are corrupt; let us know what we are not doing well.”