NDDC disowns college renovation contract

The management of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), says it did not award any contract for the renovation of classroom blocks at the Government Technical College, Abak in Akwa Ibom.

Mrs Ibim Semenatari, the acting Managing Director, disclosed this on Saturday at Government Technical College, Abak, when the Akwa Ibom Government complained that the contract was abandoned.

Mr Aniekan Umanah, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, had taken the Senate Committee on NDDC and Amnesty Programme on projects inspection to show the abandoned classroom blocks.

Umanah alleged that the commission came into the school and removed the roof of four classroom blocks leaving the students to suffer in the rain and under the scorching sun.

The commissioner said that the contract was abandoned a year ago, complaining that delicate science facilities and computer sets were damaged during the process of transferring them.

Responding, Semenatari explained that the contract was not listed in the books of NDDC.

Semenatari further explained that any contract awarded by the commission usually carries NDDC signpost at the site.

In his reaction, the Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC and Amnesty Programme, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi, cautioned the people of Niger Delta to beware of fake contract letters purportedly issued by NDDC.

At the inspection of the 2km Edienne Abak – Ikot Ekan Road, the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the level of work done since 2012 when the contract was awarded.

Nwaoboshi directed the contractor to return to site immediately or refund the mobilisation of N48 million earlier collected from NDDC.

The NDDC engineers had informed the committee that the contractor had completed earth work and one kilometre of stone base before abandoning the work.

Nwaoboshi, who was baffled at the contract sum for project, put at N248 million and the level of work done, said, “I am really surprised, I am disappointed.”

The committee, however, said that it was impressed by the quality of work done at the NDDC prototype hostel complex for the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).

Commenting on the project, the committee chairman said, “I want to commend NDDC for this beautiful project.”

“I commend the contractor for an excellent work and recommend him for further contracts in NDDC,” Nwaoboshi said.

Nwaoboshi also commended the contractor handling the 6.5km Okoroutip-Okoroete-Ette Road, cutting through the mangrove swamp of Ibeno Local Government Area.

“We are impressed that an indigenous contractor is doing this. I want to appeal to NDDC to release funds to this contractor.

“This area is the largest oil producing communities in the state. This project will be captured in 2016 budget,” Nwaoboshi assured.

Briefing the Senate Committee, Mr Nnanna Anwara, the Project Manager of the company, Viche Resources, said that the company had not been mobilised for the work.