…Signs MOU with Akwa-led Commission
The Government of Imo State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to intervene and complete some road projects awarded by the NDDC in Imo State in the past but abandoned by the contractors along the line.
Performing the ceremony at New Executive Council Chamber Government House Owerri on Tuesday, April 26, 2022, Governor Hope Uzodimma expressed satisfaction entering into the pact with the NDDC and regretted that some of the roads were awarded 14 years ago.
Governor Uzodimma identified three of such roads awarded by NDDC but abandoned and which the MOU will take care of to include: Avu/Etekuru/Ohaji/Egbema road; Umudi/Nkwerre road and Imerienwe/Ngor-Okpala/Etche road.
He said the roads were awarded to foreign contractors who abandoned them, citing security reasons, youth restiveness among other reasons they have refused to come back to complete the roads.
Governor Uzodimma said his government, in partnership with NDDC, has decided to source for local contractors who understand the terrain and the environmental challenges of the roads to complete them as soon as possible so as to alleviate the suffering of the people.
The Governor said: “Abandoning those roads has added to security challenges and as soon as they are completed they will add to the economic status of the State and help to open up those areas and help the local farmers to promptly evacuate their farm products and make live more meaningful for the populace.”
He said based on the partnership with the NDDC the local contractors who are tested and trusted have already been mobilized to site and promised to support them with part of the funding and “local logistics to ensure that the enabling environment is there to encourage the contractors to work according to specifications.To achieve a win win situation in the pact, Governor Uzodimma assured that “there will be a joint management team of relevant engineers from NDDC and Imo State Government who will constitute a Committee of Project Management that will supervise the projects to ensure that quality and sustainable roads are delivered and guaranteed.”
The Governor added: “The supervising consultants in collaboration with the Project Management Team
will be on the toes of the contractors to ensure that they deliver the roads as designed and on time too.”
He thanked NDDC management, the Minister of Niger Delta, Chief Godswill Akpabio and the President Muhammadu Buhari, for giving a nod to his request to get the roads completed in partnership with the NDDC.
Earlier, an excited Interim Administrator/Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Dr. Effiong Akwa explained that he came with his team to meet with the Governor based on his request for a partnership that will help in the completion of NDDC roads.
