The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to act quickly to stop the erosion threat that is engulfing areas of the state.
Additionally, Governor Otti pushed the intervention agency to finish any unfinished business it had started in the state. The Governor made the call on Friday after receiving a working visit from some of the Commission’s directors as well as Dr. Sam Ogbuku, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC.
Ogbuku decided it was important to pay Governor Otti a visit when he and his colleagues were in Abia for the Aqua Culture Training Center’s commissioning in Umuahia. The Governor commended the Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC on his appointment and confirmation, and he praised Ogbuku and his colleagues for their visit. He took use of the chance to alert the NDDC director to a few of the Commission’s unfinished projects in the State as well as the erosion issue that is wreaking havoc in some areas of the State.
“There are several obstacles in Abia” Governor Otti said, “the main ones are in a few locations like Aba, Umuahia, Isuikwuato, and Umunneochi areas, mostly erosion cases.”
He told the NDDC officials about how erosion in the Aba village of Ovom had split a road in two, producing a large gully that caused nearby structures to fall. “We are losing the road every day, so I gave them an ultimatum yesterday being Thursday to evacuate everyone. Thus, we would want to speak with you and ask that you help us with that, if it is feasible.
However, there are a number of unfinished projects as well. One of them connects this location to the Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Headquarters and is located rather near by. My guess is that it was around 60% done the last time I passed by. The Governor explained, “Funding stopped somewhere down the line. He made a plea to the NDDC to ensure that the projects be completed, failing which all of the labor that has been done will be in vain. Governor Otti directed the NDDC team that was visiting to other projects in Umuahia North, Arochukwu, and Aba that had all been shelved because the contractors owed money.
Despite the fact that the state may not have accomplished everything, he acknowledged the NDDC’s involvement in the state and stated that if the projects had not been carried out, we would have regressed many years. The governor stated that he was certain Dr. Ogbuku and his group could guide NDDC to even greater success. The directors who went with Dr. Sam Ogbuku were Engr. Evong M. Evong, Director of Project Management Supervision (PMS), Mr. Nelson Onwo, Director of Project Monitoring and Supervision (PMS), Dr. Nosiri Godwin, Director of Commercial and Industrial Development (CID), and Nwankwo Chidi, Director of Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
In addition, there was Mr. Dimgba Eruba, the Abia representative on the board and director of Abia State; Engr. Uno O. Uno, the director of utility, infrastructure development, and waterways (UIDW); Okpozo Edgar, the director of security; Mr. Madumere Winifred, the director of agriculture and fisheries; Frank Oputu T., the director of agriculture and fisheries; and Selina Dan Albert, the deputy director of new media and corporate affairs.
Governor Otti was accompanied by State Government Secretary Prof. Kenneth Kalu in welcoming the NDDC Managing Director and his delegation.
- By – Charles Chinekezi.