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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), yesterday, tasked communities where projects are sited by the commission to secure them from vandals and maximise them for the overall interest of all.
Director, NDDC, Edo State Office, Mrs Mercy Babawale, gave the task at the NDDC Corporate Affairs Directorate with the theme, “Capacity building for stakeholders across the Niger Delta region on community ownership and protection of NDDC projects” in Benin.
She said projects sited in various communities were for the good of the people and must be valued and appreciated. Mrs Babawale added that those who protected their facilities from vandals would have every reason to benefit from them while those who failed would suffer the loss.
“A lot of times, we just put projects in communities and people think, “Well, why do we have to bother ourselves with them? Na government put them, it doesn’t matter. No, that’s not the truth. We should own our own projects and then take charge and protect them, ensuring that we don’t have people vandalizing and undoing what has been done for us because the projects are made for our benefit in our communities.
“And if we don’t take proper ownership of the projects and we let them go, we lose other people who take better care of their projects and they have sustained projects in their community. When we are negligent, these projects we let them go and then at the end of the day, we are losers.
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“So, we must ensure that every place in our environment is well cared for and protected, such that they are sustained even for our youth, our future and that of our children,” Babawale said.
The NDDC project coordinator, Mr. Ovie Matthias, while stating the reasons for the meeting, said over the years, they had seen situation where NDDC projects were vandalised, but this administration has thought it wise to engage the community leadership and the youths to take ownership of the projects in their communities.
Also speaking, the facilitator and chief executive officer, Peace and Development Projects (PEDEP), Mr. Francis Abayomi, said poor execution of projects, neglect, lack of maintenance are some of the factors militating against NDDC projects in the region.
He noted that the NDDC projects belong to the host communities and they have the responsibility to preserve them.
Mr. Abayomi listed building a perimeter fence around the infrastructure and ensuring that security guards were deployed to monitor the projects sited in their communities.
He also called on the host communities to always participate and ensure that the projects suit their purpose.
