We Will No Longer Allow NDDC Execute Project In South-South, Governors Vows

Governors of South-South states have vowed that it will no longer allow the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to execute projects in the region.

Making this vow during a stakeholders' meeting with the Federal government, the chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, Ifeanyi Okowa held that one of the excesses of the NDDC was its refusal to consult and collaborate with state governments on project location, development and execution.

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 “We have resolved and we, as the state governments, will no longer allow NDDC to execute any project in any state of the region without it consulting state governments.

“Frankly, enough is enough and we have a court judgment to back our position,” Okowa said.

Further clamouring for true federalism, Okowa said that the people of the region were very committed to the restructuring of the country in a way that would guarantee true federalism, to enable states to create and manage their own police and security architecture under a federal structure.

Okowa further pointed out that the country needs to practice true federalism hinged on the principle of derivation, revenue sharing, and control of resources by each state of the Federation.

Present at the meeting was Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Governor Ben Ayade (Cross River), Governor Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Governor Douye Diri (Bayelsa), and Godwin Obaseki (Edo).

Ministers present included Godswill Akpabio (Niger Delta), Timipre Sylva (State for Petroleum), Goddy Agba (State for Power), Festus Keyamo (State for Niger Delta), Osagie Ehanire (Health), and Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture).