NDDC
By Chioma Onuegbu
Uyo—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration had earmarked N30 billion for the payment of debts owed contractors by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
President Buhari disclosed this, weekend, at a special solidarity rally organised for his re-election by the people of Ikot Ekpene senatorial district held at Ikot Ekpene township stadium, Akwa Ibom State.
The President who spoke on the occasion through his Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, noted that the special provisions were made to facilitate quick completion of projects embarked upon by the NDDC in the Niger Delta region, especially abandoned ones.
He added that his administration was spurred to empower the NDDC so as to deliver on the infrastructure and human capacity development of people in the Niger Delta.
He said: “The Federal Government made a special provision of N30 billion for payment of debt owed contractors by the NDDC for the outstanding jobs done so that they can be completed and commissioned for the welfare of Niger Delta and Akwa Ibom people.
“The Federal Government has awarded N11 billion for the remaining portion of Itu-Calabar highway in addition to an initial N54 billion awarded for the project. This is to ensure that the greater portion of the road could be captured while the outstanding area would be designed for procurement.”
The President further said that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, was fast- tracking the process for the construction of Ibom Deep Seaport.
According to him, the Federal Government was cooperating with Akwa Ibom State Government, through the Infrastructure Regulatory Commission procured on Public Private Partnership model to achieve it.
Speaking earlier, Managing Director of NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere, thanked the people of Ikot Ekpene senatorial district for the solidarity rally in honour of President Buhari.
He highlighted the numerous projects his administration had executed so far through the agency to include Ibakpan Road, Old Itu Road, Hospital Road in Abak, renovation of schools, provision of desks and writing materials to schools, electricity and water projects.