The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to return and complete an electrification project originally awarded to Baa-Lueku Community in Obioakpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The development followed intervention by Dr. Fabeke Douglas of the Ogoni Liberation Initiative and a recent meeting with the NDDC to resolve the controversy surrounding the relocation of the project.
The electrification project was initially awarded on March 2, 2011, to Rados Global Service Limited at a contract sum of N198,340,365.
According to a report issued by Fabeke on Thursday, August 13, the contractor commenced work but stopped midway. A subsequent inspection by the community confirmed that the project had been abandoned.
The contractor reportedly informed the NDDC that the work was stalled by security challenges in Baa-Lueku Community.
Following the report, the NDDC constituted a special team to verify the security situation in the community. The team reportedly confirmed the existence of security challenges, prompting the Commission to relocate the project temporarily to another community within Obioakpor LGA.
However, following renewed engagements with the Commission, Fabeke said the NDDC had now demonstrated a clear commitment to completing the electrification project in Baa-Lueku.
He said modalities for the resumption and completion of the project had been discussed and agreed upon in principle during a detailed meeting with the Commission.
Fabeke said the next step would be to convene a meeting with the Chief of Baa-Lueku, youth and women leaders, the Council of Chiefs and other relevant stakeholders.
He said the meeting would enable the community to be formally briefed on the NDDC’s position while also establishing the necessary security and cooperation framework to ensure the project is completed without further disruption.
Fabeke expressed appreciation to the State Director, Deputy State Director and Head of Operations of the Department of State Services (DSS), as well as other security agencies, for their collaboration.
He also commended the NDDC Director of Security and his team, alongside the project officer and engineers, for their technical and professional support in resolving the matter.
According to him, the renewed commitment by the NDDC demonstrates the Commission’s mandate to promote the welfare and development of communities in the Niger Delta.
Fabeke also thanked the NDDC Managing Director for providing a competent team to address the community-related challenges, expressing optimism that all stakeholders would work together to ensure the long-delayed electrification project is finally completed for the benefit of Baa-Lueku residents.
