The Niger Delta Development Commission has promised to prioritise human capital and infrastructure development and the 953 abandoned projects in Rivers.

The state’s representative on the NDDC board, Tony Okocha, made the disclosure in Port Harcourt on Tuesday during an interactive session with some traditional rulers in the state.

Mr Okocha, who is also the Chairman, All Progressives Congress Caretaker Committee in Rivers, said the meeting was to seek for the guidance and blessing of the royal fathers.

According to him, they came to discuss the way forward for the completion of the 953 abandoned projects in the nooks and crannies of the state.

He said: “In my study, it was clear to me that Rivers is number two, in terms of states that have abandoned projects. Our state has 953 abandoned NDDC projects.

“These projects dotted the nooks and crannies of the state. We thought we could open up this interaction to ask ourselves and, indeed, ask our fathers, what happened because what happened was before we came. We are barely two months old. So, what happened? Why are these projects uncompleted?”

Mr Okocha said that his investigation revealed that some of the projects were abandoned because of the frightening nature of the NDDC board membership, that some managing directors or boards come, they award their own contracts.

“One of the things that has bedevilled this developmental stride is the inconsistency of government. Three months down the line, a board is set up and after three months, the same board is dissolved. Within the period they existed, they would have awarded contracts to people. Sometimes, people use their money to go to the field and don’t get their money paid,” Mr Okocha said.

He, however, said that the present board, led by Dr Samuel Ogbuku, would make efforts to change the negative trajectory about the commission over the years.

He also said that the board had decided that it would lead differently from other boards that led over the years.

“We have started the process of change, which also conforms with the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Okocha promised to supervise projects that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people, promote education and improve the healthcare of Rivers people.

He promised to always protect the interest of the people and defend its rights.

The Executive Director of Finance and Administration of the commission, Boma Iyaye, said that there would be improved development in the Niger Delta region.

Mr Iyaye said that the commission received N300 billion allocation from the 2024 Appropriation Act.

“That is a serious leap from what it used to be. We used to be in the region of N109 billion for the entire region, but in 2024, it has moved from about N100 billion to N300 billion.

“It means more money for the states, more money for Rivers. And the board and management, in their wisdom, are trying to see how states will get higher allocations, especially the big states. So, we are voting whopping sums for development in these states,” Mr Iyaye said.

He also assured the traditional rulers that 2024 would be a better year for the region.

He, therefore, appealed to them to assist the commission to protect the oil pipelines to stop economic sabotage in the region and country at large.

Earlier in a remark, Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Sgt. Chidi Awuse, thanked the President for the quality of persons he appointed into the board.

Mr Awuse, who is the traditional ruler of the Emohua community, expressed gratitude to the Rivers’ representative on the board and his team for the visit.

He described the visit as “the first of its kind to the council since the inception of NDDC.’’

He prayed for Mr Okocha and his team for the show of respect and recognition to the council, saying that God would help him to succeed in office.

(NAN)