Ondo monarchs demand action on abandoned NDDC projects

To address this issue, the monarchs pledged to collaborate with government agencies to oversee, supervise, and monitor all NDDC projects, ensuring their proper completion.

They expressed these concerns on Wednesday during a workshop themed ‘Capacity Building on Emerging Trends in Rural Governance’, organised by the NDDC at Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area. The event was held in Akure, the state capital.

Speaking at the workshop, the monarch of Igbekebo Kingdom in Ese Odo Local Government Area, Oba Bamidele Dabo, who represented the group Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Niger Delta, emphasised the need for community leaders in coastal regions to end the trend of abandoned projects that are critical for the economic development of host communities.

He lamented that numerous NDDC projects in various communities had been abandoned due to a lack of proper supervision, which has eroded residents’ confidence in the government and its agencies.

Oba Dabo said, “We challenge the Ministry of Niger Delta Development Commission to give greater recognition to traditional rulers in oil-producing areas of the state to foster mutual relationships between the host communities and the agency.

“There is an urgent need to complete the long-overdue Sabomi-Igbotu road and other abandoned projects in the region. The NDDC should also focus on capacity building and infrastructural development.”

In his remarks, Mr Eni Akinsola, a resource person for the NDDC at the event, called for increased synergy between community stakeholders in the oil-rich region and the NDDC.

He assured attendees that the NDDC would spare no effort in creating an enabling environment for affected communities through empowerment programmes and infrastructural projects.

https://punchng.com/ondo-monarchs-demand-action-on-abandoned-nddc-projects/