By Emmanuel Obisue
Brand new Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, MNDD, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has promised that thousands of uncompleted/abandoned projects across the Niger Delta region will be given timely attention and prompt completion.
Nigerian Pilot had reported that the Forensic Audit of operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, as ordered by former President Muhammdu Buhari, revealed that “13,000” uncompleted/abandoned projects lie scattered across the region.
Speaking in his inaugural press briefing on Wednesday, Engr. Momoh who expressed worry over the development, affirmed that his administration will tackle the issue promptly.
He assured that the MNDD will collaborate with the NDDC to carry out an audit of existing projects to discern which are viable for onward completion.
While noting that the Niger Delta is “strategic and key” to Nigeria’s development, he said with the rechristening of the Ministry to the Development Ministry, the focus will be on building “standard” infrastructures that will stand the test of time. “If we want to build infrastructure, it has to be standard. NDDC projects are nothing to write home about,” he said.
Momoh decried the living conditions of Niger Deltans, especially those living along the coastal lines. He also reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s assurance that all the country’s refineries will be revamped.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Permanent Secretary of the MNDD, Dr. Shuaib Belgore who admitted that the pace of work in the Niger Delta region had slowed down owing to the absence of an overseeing Minister, expressed optimism that work will kick off immediately with the coming of Engr. Momoh.
