The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has categorically denied involvement in the Nyanghasang community road project in Calabar, Cross River State, amidst accusations of misrepresentation and attempted fund diversion by certain federal lawmakers. Orok Duke, the NDDC Commissioner representing Cross River State, clarified that the road project is solely a state government initiative, dating back to the previous administration and continuing under the current Governor Bassey Otu. He attributed the controversy surrounding the project to deliberate attempts to diminish the state government’s contributions and misrepresent the project as an NDDC initiative to siphon public funds. Duke emphatically stated that the Nyanghasang Road project is not listed in the NDDC’s budget and has been consistently funded and executed by the Cross River State government.
Duke criticized the actions of some federal lawmakers who attempted to claim credit for the state-funded project by hastily asphalting a section of the road and presenting it as their own. He pointed to the lack of proper documentation, such as Bills of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME), vouchers, or award letters, to support their claims. He characterized this maneuver as a deceptive tactic to misappropriate public funds and mislead constituents. Duke highlighted the NDDC’s commitment to transparent processes, emphasizing that all projects undertaken by the commission are meticulously documented and budgeted for, unlike the Nyanghasang road project. He cited the recent commissioning of the 900-meter stretch of Idang Road in Calabar South, a legitimate NDDC project, as an example of the commission’s proper procedure.
The controversy, according to Duke, arose from attempts by certain individuals to rename the Nyanghasang Road in anticipation of a fabricated NDDC commissioning event, without the consent of the local government council. He underscored the NDDC’s adherence to due process, which involves proper site handovers and collaboration with the state government, and condemned the attempt to bypass these procedures for political manipulation. He argued that if the Nyanghasang Road were indeed an NDDC project, it would have followed the established protocol involving the state government, not a federal legislator with no oversight role who attempted to personalize the project with their own images.
Ankpo Edet, the Cross River State Commissioner for Works, corroborated Duke’s statements, confirming the state government’s sole ownership and execution of the Nyanghasang Road project. He reiterated that the road was awarded and fully funded by the state government, spanning both the previous and current administrations. Edet highlighted the importance of the road to the community and emphasized Governor Otu’s commitment to its completion, which had been briefly stalled before his tenure. He denounced the federal legislator’s attempts to claim the project as deceptive and unfair, particularly as the purported commissioning occurred without any consultation or involvement of the state government. Edet confirmed that the Ministry of Works was not informed about the event, which was initially advertised as solely the commissioning of an NDDC office, further solidifying that the road project is neither an NDDC nor a Federal Government initiative.
Duke echoed Edet’s sentiments and revealed his lack of awareness of any official commissioning. He condemned the use of campaign-style images on public project materials, highlighting a similar incident with the Idang Road project, which was inappropriately renamed without local consultation to “Etinyin Ekpenyong Oniong” – a senator’s uncle – causing community division and resentment. He further criticized the placement of the senator’s photograph on NDDC-funded streetlights, labeling it misleading and inappropriate. Duke asserted that if any image should be displayed on NDDC projects, it should be that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not a contractor or politician, and condemned the dishonest practice of contractors attempting to rebrand completed projects as personal initiatives after receiving payment.
Duke emphasized the collaborative, rather than competitive, relationship between the NDDC and the state government. He lauded Governor Otu’s infrastructural development efforts, noting the alignment of his policies with those of President Tinubu, fostering a harmonious working relationship between the NDDC and the state government. He also commended the governor’s advocacy for equitable distribution of NDDC projects across all three senatorial districts to address concerns of marginalization. In closing, Duke urged federal lawmakers to concentrate on their designated constituency projects instead of attempting to hijack and politicize NDDC initiatives for personal gain, ensuring the commission’s resources are utilized effectively for the benefit of the Niger Delta region.
