Acting MD NDDC Fights Back, Lists Projects linked to NASS members and fully Paid for.
Moses Oba
Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, yesterday fought back the National Assembly with a revelation that the NDDC was compelled to fully pay for certain contracts before approval of its budget by the National Assembly.
Pondei listed some of the contracts paid for on the prompting of the National Assembly before its 2019 annual budget was harmonised. He alleged that some lawmakers, especially members of the adhoc committees, held the commission hostage over the years with the annual budget approval.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Edgar Ebigoni, the NDDC boss maintained that most of the contracts the commission was arm-twisted into paying for were either never done or never completed by the benefiting lawmakers. He alleged a “blackmail scheme” against the NDDC top echelons by the legislators, saying this explains why the National Assembly passed the 2019 budget of the NDDC, which was billed to expire in May 2020, in March 2020.
“The implication was that the management of the NDDC had only five weeks to implement the budget of one fiscal year, and present a performance report on the same budget,” Pondei stated.
He added, “This scheme has continued to play out, because as at this month of August 2020, the budget of the NDDC for the 2020 fiscal year has not been passed by the Joint National Assembly Committee on NDDC.
“Sadly, nobody seems to care to ask questions because people are falling for the well-scripted smokescreen playing out in the two chambers of the National Assembly.”
Pondei listed the contracts and benefitting firms to include: Kith Global Ventures Limited, remedial works at New Ogorode roads Lot 3, at the cost of N493, 684,169.00, which was paid on 17/03/2020; 301 Constr. Ltd, remedial works at Nja Road to Akoku Uno Lot 1, at the cost of N350, 027,919.80, paid 17/03/2020; Cracked Stone Constr. Limited, remedial works at Ajaolubeti road, Environs Lot 2 at the cost of N394, 010,952.10, paid 17/03/2020.
Pondei stated that Collincrystal Energy Limited was to carry out emergency works at Benin Township Road Lot 7, at the cost of N431,053.035.20, which was paid 17/03/2020.
Named also were Collincrystal Energy Limited, which was to do emergency works at Benin Town Road Lot 6, at the cost of N348, 853,184.60 and paid on 7/03/2020; Crism Constr. Building Limited, emergency works at Eziama Osuama international roads, Isiala Mbano LGA, at the cost of N561, 592,377.80, paid 17/03/2020; Argento Limited, emergency works at Benin Township Road Lot 4, at the cost of N382, 805,411.60, paid 18/03/2020; Two Rocks Cont. Limited, remedial works at New Ogorode Road Lot 4, N500, 875,848.00, paid 18/03/2020; Elkan Zibson Ltd, emergency repairs of failed and unmotorable sections of Ezumoha internal roads, Isiala Mbano LGA, at the cost of N531, 150,414.29, paid 19/03/2020; Cracked Stone Constr. Limited, remedial works on failed and unmotorable sections of Benin Township Road Lot 8, at the cost of N417, 806,787.01, paid 19/03/2020; PDH Global Logistics Limited, emergency repairs of failed and unmotorable sections of Umuezuo Umuagbavu road, remedy of failed and unmotorable sections of Chikwe Orlu Street environment, at the cost of N543, 247,587.35, paid 20/03/2020; Aritel Oil and Gas, remedying of failed sections of Chikwe Orlu Street environment, at the cost of N550,100,132.34, paid 24/03/2020; and Dis Concept and Solutions Limited, urgent remedy of failed and unmotorable sections of Jessy and Jenny Road, off Peter Odili Road, Port Harcourt, at the cost of N476,794,367.22, paid 26/03/2020.
Pondei also said Ogugo Concept and Solutions Limited was to do emergency repairs of failed and unmotorable sections of environs of Yenagoa LGA, at the cost of N300, 029,695.14 and was paid on 26/03/2020; Webster Global ventures Limited, emergency repairs of failed and unmotorable sections Benin Township Road Lot 2, Oredo LGA, at the cost of N357, 242,054.35, paid 26/03/2020; Webster Global Ventures Limited, remedial works at failed and unmotorable sections of Akuku Illah Road, Oshimili North LGA, at the cost of N 463,489,890.13, paid 26/03/2020; and Webster Global ventures Limited, remedial works at failed and unmotorable sections of New Ogorode Road, Lot2 Sapele LGA, at the cost of N 466,416,380.71, paid 26/03/2020.