Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to urgently address several stalled development projects across the state that have been left unattended for years.
The governor made this appeal during a visit by the NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, to his office in Calabar.
Governor Otu highlighted a number of neglected projects, including the youth centre in Akpabuyo, the Adiabo-Ikoneto road, and the abandoned Ikom Medical Centre. He also appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the needs of refugees, noting that the state currently shelters over 54,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs).
He clarified that Cross River State has no conflict with the NDDC. Addressing a recent incident where government officials blocked the commissioning of some NDDC projects over ownership disputes, Otu explained that it stemmed from miscommunication, which the state is now working to resolve.
“We have no quarrel with the NDDC. Any past issues were due to communication gaps, and we are committed to resolving them through a lawful, structured, and people-focused approach,” he said.
Governor Otu also advocated for more Cross River-specific initiatives to be included in the Commission’s development agenda. He welcomed the NDDC’s readiness to revisit and complete abandoned projects and emphasized the need for better collaboration in planning and executing future developments.
In his remarks, Dr. Ogbuku praised the state government’s collaborative attitude and mentioned ongoing partnerships with both private and public entities, including NLNG and NNPC, to deliver key infrastructure, such as the high-standard hospital currently under construction in Ikom.
Both sides expressed a shared commitment to strengthening technical collaboration moving forward.
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