Otti appeals to NDDC to end abandoned projects, tackle erosion challenge in Abia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to urgently intervene in controlling the erosion menace ravaging parts of the state. He also called on the intervention agency to complete all abandoned projects it had embarked upon in the state.

On Friday, Governor Otti received a working visit from Dr. Sam Ogbuku, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, and some of his directors. They came to Abia for the inauguration of the Aqua Culture Training Centre in Umuahia and decided to pay a courtesy call to the governor. Ogbuku congratulated Governor Otti on his appointment and confirmation as the NDDC’s chief executive.

Governor Otti expressed his gratitude to Ogbuku and his team for their visit and used the opportunity to highlight some of the challenges facing the state, especially in terms of erosion and unfinished projects by the NDDC. He said that Abia had a lot of problems in places like Aba, Umuahia, Isuikwuato, and the Umunneochi area. He told them about the erosion in Ovom, a community in Aba, that had split a road into two and caused buildings to collapse. He said that the state government had already ordered the residents of the Ovom erosion site to vacate immediately. He pleaded with the NDDC to assist the state government in tackling the erosion menace.

He also informed them about the numerous projects that had been abandoned by the NDDC in the state, urging them to complete them. He mentioned one of them that was very close to where they were and connected the place to the Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Headquarters. He said that the project was about 60% complete before funding stopped. He appealed to the NDDC to resume work on the projects; otherwise, they would be wasted. He listed other abandoned projects in Aba, Arochukwu, and Umuahia North, saying that the contractors were owed money.

He, however, acknowledged the interventions by the NDDC in the state and expressed confidence in Ogbuku and his team’s ability to lead the NDDC to greater heights. He said that he looked forward to more collaboration between his administration and the NDDC for the benefit of the Abia people.