By SIMON EBEGBULEM
GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has assured the State’s new Commissioner on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of Government’s support to ensure that oil wells wrongly ceded to other states are returned to the state.

Speaking on Friday  during a visit of the newly appointed Edo State representative on the Board of the NDDC, Mr Henry Okhuarobo, Governor Oshiomhole however frowned at the quality of  jobs in the state.

Governor Oshiomhole said, “we do not have to go cap in hand begging for what is our entitlement. The NDDC should ensure that money appropriated for the oil producing communities is spent for the region judiciously and road projects should have drainages on both sides” he noted.

According to him, funds appropriated in the name of the people of the Niger Delta region are stolen and oil wells in Edo state are credited to other states.

He advised the new management of the NDDC to address the mistakes of the previous board, by not embarking on projects that will not affect the lives of the people of oil producing communities.

“All projects should be properly executed taking into account designs. If the conditions of the Niger Delta people must change, we need policies that will torch the lives of the people. The NDDC should take erosion control as a challenge. Do not worship any godfather by constructing a road to their house, but do it because it is an oil producing community,” he added.

The Governor said he is happy that in Edo State today, the government has made a statement on the quality of roads that should be constructed and the people will no longer accept substandard roads, without drainage, adding that, “we have raised the level of awareness for the people to insist on the delivery of quality projects”.

The newly appointed representative of Edo State on the Board of the NDDC, Barr. Henry Okhuarobo thanked the governor for nominating him for the appointment, and assured that he will ensure that the projects to be executed must be properly designed with side drains.

“After accessing what has been done by your administration in the state, I found out that you have set a standard for NDDC projects. It is now a challenge for us to do what you are doing with schools, roads, health system, water and solar borehole. In road construction in particular we will follow your standard,” he noted.

He disclosed that the NDDC will embark as an intervention agency to remedy roads which the state government is not working on, adding, “we will liaise with your officials to know where they are not working to avoid duplication”.

Barr. Okhuarobo appealed to the governor to use his good will to prevail on the federal government to address the issue of the state’s oil wells that are being credited to other states.