Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has admonished communities where projects are sited by the commission in Edo State to secure them from vandals and maximize them for the wellbeing of all.
The Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Edo State Office, Mrs. Mercy Babawale gave the task at the NDDC Corporate Affairs Directorate with the theme: “Capacity building for stakeholders across the Niger Delta region on community ownership and protection of NDDC projects” held in Benin.
She said projects sited in the various communities are for the good of the people and must be valued and appreciated.
Mrs. Babawale added that those who protected their facilities from vandals will have every reason to benefit from them while those who failed will suffer the loss.
“A lot of times we just put projects in communities and people think, “Well, why do we have to bother ourselves with them? Now government put them, it doesn’t matter.” No, that’s not the truth. We should own our own projects and then take charge and protect them, ensure that we don’t have vandals vandalizing, we don’t have people coming to come and undo what has been done for us because this project are made for our benefit in our communities.
“And if we don’t take proper ownership of this project and we let them go, we lose other people who take better care of their projects benefits and they have sustained projects in their community. When we are negligent, these projects we let them go and then at the end of the day we are losers.
“So we must ensure that every place in our environment is well cared for, is protected, such that they are sustained even for our youth and for our future, and for the future of our children”, Babawale said.
Speaking also, the facilitator and Chief Executive Officer, Peace and Development Projects (PEDEP), Mr. Francis Abayomi, said poor execution of projects, neglect, lack of maintenance are some of the factors militating against NDDC projects in the region.
He noted that the NDDC projects belong to them and they have the responsibility to preserve them.
Mr. Abayomi listed building of perimeter fence around the infrastructure and ensuring that security guards are deployed to monitor the projects sited in their communities.
Abayomi also called on the host communities to always participate and ensure that the projects suit their purpose.
The NDDC Project Coordinator, Mr. Ovie Matthias, while stating the reasons for the meeting, said over the years, they have seen situation where NDDC projects were vandalized, but this administration has thought it wise to engage the community leadership and the youths as well to urge them to take ownership of the projects in their communities.
