Youths from coastal communities in Ondo State, under the auspices of Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), have called on the Federal Government to review cases of abandoned projects in the Niger Delta region, particularly Ondo State.
The NDYM President, Agbejoye Adetoye and the Secretary, Akinjeji Friday, who lamented the rate of infrastructural decay and abandoned projects in the area by the Niger Delta ministry, also frowned on the lack of Federal Government presence in the area.
They lamented that many of the projects awarded by previous administrations to transform the area had been abandoned even when the contractors handling such projects had collected over 70 per cent of the funds meant for the projects.
They also accused the contractors handling some of the projects of using substandard materials.
They observed that despite the immense contributions of the people of the area to the nation’s economy, the people are still living in abject poverty.
The group leaders, who denied their alleged protest against the visit of the Minister of State of the Niger Delta Ministry, Professor Claudius Daramola, however, expressed disappointment over the failure of the minister to visit some of the abandoned projects, especially the housing project at Kofawe in Igbokoda.
They accused ministry officials of diverting the minister’s tour to Aboto to inspect OSOPADEC projects.
“Nevertheless, we want to sincerely apologise to the minister for our actions. We were only protesting against the shoddy job done by contractors and their efforts to cover up.
“This was not known to the minister. We are peace loving people. We are calling on the minister to review cases of abandoned projects and other projects embarked upon by the Niger Delta Ministry in our area”. the group said.
SOURCE: Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure
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