By Jimitota ONOYUME

PORT HARCOURT – AN urgent appeal has gone to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to re-award the Otuabagi shore protection project in Bayelsa State to a competent contractor.

A former Bayelsa Commissioner on the Board of the NDDC, Mr Anthony Orubo, who made the appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said the contractor handling the project allegedly abandoned it shortly after he got funds to mobilise to site.

Orubo, who spoke extensively on the importance of the project to the people of the area, wondered how a contractor could abandon such a project that was very significant to the economic life of several communities in the area.

He further appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure credible persons were appointed into the board of the NDDC at the end of the tenure of the present board.

While commending the team spirit in the current board of the Commission, Orubo said credible persons should be made to take over from them at the end of their tenure, adding that partisanship should be shunned in selecting a team to succeed the current board.

Continuing, he said there were capable hands for the office of Executive Director of Projects that is speculated would go to the state.

“I can’t tell you whether Bayelsa will get Executive Director of Projects, but if that office comes to Bayelsa as many are saying, it will then be good because there are competent Bayelsans to fill such position,” he said.

He also appealed for early completion of the Kayama shore protection project and the Sampo/Nembe/Ogbia Road.