Dr. Orok Duke, Cross River’s representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board, says the state needs oil-producing status recognition to access funds for development.Dr. Orok Duke, Cross River’s representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board, says the state needs oil-producing status recognition to access funds for development.
Duke, who made the statement at a press conference in Calabar on Tuesday, stated that Cross River needed to maximise available resources despite its funding challenges.
The NDDC commissioner who used the occasion to review the commission’s interventions in Cross River, said that funding was a major challenge to development.
“The limited allocation to the state has affected its ability to implement critical infrastructure projects that will improve the wellbeing of the people.
“So stakeholders need to unite in pursuing benefits that are associated with oil production and derivation funding,” he said.
Duke commended Gov. Bassey Otu’s efforts towards Cross River’s recognition among oil-producing states, describing the initiative as critical to the state’s development prospects.
He said that the constitutional derivation principle had created opportunities for oil-producing communities and states, and that Cross River must use available legal frameworks to ensure inclusion.
The NDDC official said that to tackle abandonment of projects, the commission had adopted a policy of not paying contractors until they completed their jobs.
“We have seen where some contractors collected advance payments without completing projects. This leaves communities without the promised project,” he said.
He said that the NDDC had implemented interventions such as solar streetlights, refuse bins, and police stations to address infrastructure and security needs in communities.
Duke urged stakeholders to look beyond political differences, and work together to attract more development projects to Cross River.
He said that sustained collaboration and better access to development funding would improve the state’s capacity to address infrastructure gaps, and meet the people’s needs.(NAN)
