NDDC Gets Commendations for Completed Roads in Rivers
Indigenes and residents of Abuloma community in Rivers State have expressed joy and satisfaction over the completion of Joe Alagoa and Elizabeth Alfred Roads by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Speaking during a pre-commissioning inspection by NDDC officials, a community leader in Abuloma, Mr Goodluck Jonah, said that the reconstruction of the road, was a big blessing as it had opened up the area for development.
He said that the road, which was hitherto impassable, was now a joy to drive on, stating that it had enhanced the social and economic activities in the area and improved the living conditions of the people.
Another resident in the area, Mr. Henry Tugwell, observed that the road had positively impacted on the lives of people in the area, as well as boosting the activities of companies and business enterprises.
Tugwell, who manages an event centre in that neighbourhood, said that the NDDC did a good job on the road and remarked that the project added a lot of value to properties in the area.
The leader of the inspection team, the NDDC Director of Project Management Department, Engr. Julius Tonye-George, stated that the 1.8- kilometre road, with rigid pavement spurs, had substantially decongested the busy Peter Odili Road, taking traffic to Woji and Akpajo areas of the Rivers State capital.
Tonye-George, who was appointed recently by the NDDC Interim Administrator, Mr Efiong Akwa, as the Chairman of Project Commissioning Committee, said that his team’s visit to Aboloma heralded the commencement of the inspection of the Commission’s projects spread across the nine Niger Delta states.
He recalled that the NDDC Chief Executive Officer had in January inaugurated the committee meant to drive the commissioning of completed projects across the Niger Delta region, noting that the Commission was focusing on completion and commissioning of projects.
Tonye-George said that the people of the Niger Delta deserved to know the numerous projects and programmes undertaken by the NDDC as an interventionist agency, stating: “People want to see projects on the ground, especially completed ones. Over time, the NDDC has completed many projects that are due for commissioning.
“Members of the various communities that benefited from NDDC projects sited in their areas, need to properly take ownership so as to ensure their sustainability. Many projects have been completed but were not handed over to communities or end users. These include roads, bridges, schools, hostels and health centres.”
The Director said that the committee would identify all completed projects and get them ready for commissioning and hand-over to benefiting communities.
The inspection team visited several road projects in Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State, including the completed internal roads within the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Apamini and Azumini Farm roads in Atali community.
Dr Ibitoye Abosede
Director Corporate Affairs
March 16, 2021.