By Jimitota Onoyume
Port Harcourt—Opuama and Sekelewu communities all in Warri North local government area of Delta state have called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, to urgently investigate what they termed the failure of a firm  working for the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC,  to complete a 1.2 billion naira river  canalisation project phase one in their area  that was awarded to the firm by the NDDC since 2004.

Addressing the media in Port Harcourt at the temporary office of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Counsel to the communities, Dr Abiodun Amuda Kannike, who was flanked by others  from the arears, alleged that the firm had abandoned the project, adding that the firm  did not do up to five percent job on it before abandoning the project.

The communities also alleged that the firm was paid its full money for the job. They thence called on the anti graft agency to recover every bit of kobo paid the firm for the job or better still force the firm to go back to site or re award the job

They linked the failures of contractors in the region to deliver to specification with the tension in the region. According to them, the poor disposition of the contractors to their jobs was largely behind the conflicts in the region. They further called on the federation government to effectively supervise the operations of the NDDC to avoid situations where contractors would receive their full money for jobs they have not done.

“The EFCC’s operatives should thoroughly investigate the refusal of the contractor to execute the job, after collecting the huge sum of money from NDDC. The fund has to be recovered. We are being frustrated. Enough is enough.“

“The Federal Government must also take part of the blame, for not adequately supervising the NDDC. Otherwise, the authorities would not have paid the contractor, without executing commensurate job. The contractor must either return to site or the contract re-awarded.”

Other Niger Delta communities may be having similar nasty experiences. We want development projects in our communities. We want sanity to prevail. We are also clamouring for justice, equity and fair_play, in order to move our communities, Delta state, Niger Delta and the nation forward.”, they said.

The communities also said the areas had been peaceful so the issue of security challenge being adduced by contractors to abandon contracts in the region would not arise in this situation.

When contacted, Acting Head Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Mr Toye Abosede confirmed the contract.He however said only 50percent of the money had been paid the contractor.

He assured that the job would be re awarded next year as only 35 percent work had so far been done.