The
Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr Nsima
Ekere, has stated that the Commission is devoting 70 per cent of its budget to
the completion of on-going projects in the Niger Delta region.
Mr
Ekere, who spoke during an interactive meeting with NDDC design and supervising
consultants at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, noted that only 30 per
cent of the budget would go into new projects to enable the Commission
restructure its over-bloated balance sheet.
The
NDDC Chief Executive Officer declared that the Commission was saddled with huge
liabilities and thus, efforts were being made to reduce the number of on-going
projects. He declared: “We have reduced the number of new projects in our
budgets to enable us complete on-going ones. We have tried to prioritize them
to enable us deliver on the more critical ones.”
Mr
Ekere told the consultants that henceforth NDDC would insist on using only
proper designs on all its projects to ensure quality and timely delivery. He
added: “To achieve different results for our projects, we must be prepared to
do things differently. We must redefine our standards to globally acceptable
standards, and compel our contractors to abide by them. We must, indeed,
collectively, reaffirm a commitment to do what is right and proper, at all
times.”
The
NDDC Managing Director affirmed that henceforth designs for projects must be
proper and complete before execution, stressing that “the old practice of
working from answer to question will no longer obtain in the Commission. We can
no longer afford to put the cart before the horse.”
He
urged the consultants to ensure close supervision of all projects, while
insisting on the integrity and professional competence of all those engaged in
project monitoring and supervision.
The
NDDC boss highlighted the 4-R strategy, which he said “was designed by the
Governing Board as imperative towards optimising performance, as well as
ensuring that the Niger Delta Development Commission begins to fulfil its
mandate and meet the expectations of the people.”
Ekere
affirmed that consultants were the livewire of the projects cycle, adding:
“Every project begins and ends with you. What you offer defines the strength
and quality of every project.”
He
assured the consultants that NDDC would, in line with its 4-R strategy, give
priority to payment for their services, stating that it had introduced a new
payment system which would make it unnecessary for them to frequently visit the
Commission’s headquarters.
Ekere
stated that since inception, the NDDC had awarded a total of 8,558 projects
across the region in various categories. According to him, the breakdown
included 3,529 roads/bridges; 264 jetty/shore protection; 205 canalisation and
reclamation; I, 574 energy and power supply; I, 173 water supply. Others are I,
707 buildings, such as schools, civic centres, hospitals; 38 flood and erosion
control, as well as equipping and furnishing of 68 building facilities.
In
his remarks, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Engr. Sam Adjogbe, advised
the consultants to always work in tandem with the contractors and the
Commission’s engineers. He said: “NDDC project sites should not be turned into
battle grounds for contractors and consultants. Consultants and contractors
must be in sync with the NDDC for effective job delivery.”
Adjogbe
urged the consultants to be writing periodic reports on NDDC projects to avoid
allowing things to go wrong before seeking for remedy.
Also
speaking at the interactive session, Arc. Ezekiel Nya-Etok, one of the
consultants commended the new professional spirit being introduced by the
current board and management of the NDDC.
He,
however, expressed concern over the delays in project completion, putting the
blame on the procurement process, which he said was hampering the timely
delivery on projects as budgetary provisions were usually not enough to keep
consultants on site.
No comments: