Project execution: NDDC wants contractors to involve communities

The Niger Delta    Development Commission (NDDC) on Wednesday told contractors implementing its projects to ensure that the benefiting communities were carried along.

Mr Chibuzor Ugwoha, the Managing Director of NDDC gave the directive in an address at a capacity building workshop for contractors of NDDC projects in Port Harcourt.

He said that as critical stakeholders, the host communities must be respected and taken into confidence.
throughout the project implementation to eliminate conflicts with communities.

“The underlying principle of good community relations is that when a contractor accepts his civic responsibility and takes an active interest in the well being of the community, he gains community support, loyalty and goodwill,” Ugwoha said.
The NDDC boss advised contractors to provide employment, sponsor youth activities and engage indigenous companies in the purchase of materials and supplies for the projects.
“If you do these, you would have fostered a sense of partnership with the communities which are essential for the long term success of the projects,” he said.

In her speech, the Director Community and Rural Development, Dr Christy Atako, said that the workshop was designed to sensitise the contractors on the need to adopt the right strategies to prevent the occurrence of conflict in their areas of operation.

She stressed on the need for them to establish and maintain good relationship with their host communities; adding, “You may find it extremely difficult to cope with community challenges that may arise if you ignore this advice””.
Atako, charged the contractors to ensure that they were properly introduced to the communities before moving to site, adding that ““it is the absence of this that makes you encounter some of the problems”.