It has become a sorry sight to behold the widespread fraud that has marred<\/p>\n
the list of road projects contract being earmarked for execution by the
\nNiger Delta Development Commission, NDDC under Mr. Nsima Ekere.<\/p>\n
At close look, one is force to smile and to believe that the NDDC czar
\nmeans well for the people and has decided to use his position to correct
\nthe years of neglect and injustices to the state by successive leaderships
\nof the intervention agency. As a group of independent Akwa Ibom media
\npersons, our resolve to congratulate and thank the NDDC boss has however
\nbeen cut short by the revelations that there is no sincerity in the
\nprojects at hand, as allegations of fraud and sharp smart irregularities
\ncame to our notice.<\/p>\n
It is nostalgic to even imagine that such desperation dare exist in
\nadministrative consciousness of Nsima and Team to attempt broad day light
\nrobbery of another man’s toiling.<\/p>\n
*The Matter in Perspective: *<\/p>\n
The Akwa Ibom State Government, through the Ministry of Works is operating
\na contractual Financing scheme (CFS) with Construction companies. Under
\nthis scheme Contracts are awarded only to capable companies who can execute
\ncontracts without waiting for down payments from Akwa Ibom State Government
\nfor at least 13 month period before Government starts reimbursement. Little
\nwonder so many road projects are simultaneously being undertaken by
\nGovernor Udom Emmanuel even with the meager allocation from the federation
\naccount.<\/p>\n
That Mr Nsima Ekere became the managing director of NDDC, through the
\nadvocacy of Governor Emmanuel and other Akwa Ibom elders. Mr. Emmanuel
\nspecifically sent a message to President Buhari, that he should look among
\nthe ranks and file of the APC members in Akwa Ibom, and appoint someone
\nfrom the oil producing communities to complete the tenure meant for Akwa
\nIbom state to pilot the affairs of NDDC.<\/p>\n
It was expected that whoever becomes the MD will think Akwa Ibom and the
\nnext generation, rather than the next election like Nsima Ekere and his
\nteam are seen to be doing. The evils of playing politics with road
\nconstruction meant for your own people cannot be over emphasized.<\/p>\n
Perusing the ambiguous and ambitious list of supposed projects by NDDC
\nunder Nsima’s watch of execution, one is left with a strong doubt that
\nPresident Muhammadu Buhari may have since abandoned his fight against
\ncorruption in Nigeria. Or else, we would have asked him to check out the
\nfollowing lies by such a sensitive and all important federal agency, under
\nhis watch:<\/p>\n
*LIE NUMBER ONE:*<\/p>\n
IDIABA NDA NSIT-NUNG UDOE ROAD: This is a\u00a0 that links Nsit Atai and
\nIbesikpo Local Government Areas , the project was awarded in 2015 to COSSEL
\nNigeria Limited and is due for commissioning on the 28th of May 2017. But
\nNDDC under Nsima Ekerehas included it as one of their projects meant for
\nexecution in Akwa Ibom , so is Nsima Ekere deliberately out to deceive the
\npublic with fake contracts ?<\/p>\n
*LIE NUMBER TWO*<\/p>\n
Ikpe Ikot Nkon – Arochukwu Road<\/p>\n
The Ikpe Ikot Nkon- Obotme-Arochukwu 14 kilometer road was awarded to
\nPeculiar Construction by Akwa Ibom State Government in 2016, and work is at
\nan advanced stage.<\/p>\n
*LIE NUMBER THREE*<\/p>\n
MKPOK \u2013OKAT ROAD<\/p>\n
The 5kilometer Mkpok \u2013 Okat road is a foregone conclusion having been
\nexecuted by the administration of Governor Emmanuel. But trust Uncle Nsima,
\nhe has gone ahead to claim a road constructed in Onna local government Area
\nby Mr Udom Emmanuel. What desperation! Check NDDC list No. 65 and Akwa
\nState completed project list No. 4.<\/p>\n
*LIE NUMBER FOUR*<\/p>\n
NO SPECIFICATION ON PROJECTS:<\/p>\n
A situation were about 38 projects by NDDC read “Roads and bridges
\nconstruction,” without recourse to the inch, meter, kilometer or
\nspecifications, gives room for public deception by desperadoes. How is one
\nexpected to bid for a road without being told the length of such a road?<\/p>\n
*LIE NUMBER FIVE*<\/p>\n
EMPTY PROPOSAL<\/p>\n
There are some projects that are nonexistent or too vague to be understood
\nor taken seriously. For example, there is an offer for bidding of roads
\nleading to the palace of all the paramount rulers in Uyo Federal
\nConstituency, and one is forced to ask where those roads are meant to begin
\nfrom, especially when more than two or three roads can lead to one palace.
\nIs it not foolishness that would lead one to go construct a road to the
\nPalace of Edidem Ita Etuk the paramount ruler of Ibesikpo Asutan whose
\ncompound lies along the highway close to the Nung Udoe roundabout?<\/p>\n
The fraudulent duplications, ambiguity and insincerity may not be
\nunconnected with the refusal of Mr Ekere to connect with the state and its
\nleadership since his emergence in November, 2016.<\/p>\n
We don\u2019t want to believe that the unbridled desire to \u2018capture\u2019 Akwa Ibom
\nState for APC at all costs remain the sole ambition of Mr Ekere as NDDC MD.
\nIt is no longer news that many PDP chieftains have been approached to
\ndecamp to APC and get a road contract.<\/p>\n
If Nsima Ekere\u2019s NDDC can lay claim to Akwa Ibom State projects, tax payers
\nsweat while we are alive, able, willing and active, one can only imagine
\nwhat robbery is going on in black and white from the MD’s table.<\/p>\n
In more responsible climes, the position of an indigenous NDDC Managing
\nDirector ought not to breed dishonesty in project delivery. Giving back to
\nAkwa Ibom people that which is rightly theirs shouldn’t be politicized and
\ndeceptive as Nsima and his boys are doing.<\/p>\n
*WE ARE THE MANDATE EYES, WE ARE WATCHING CLOSELY*<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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