By Sampson Boroh
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has come under heavy criticism over his recent directive to the acting management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to upset N1.9 billion water hyacinth projects in the region.
Ijaw youths from the nine States of the Niger Delta region, who bashed the minister, described the directive as a ‘misplaced priority’, saying water hyacinth contracts had been the conduit pipe by the interventionist agency.
The Ijaw youths under the aegis of Movement for the Survival of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) urged the minister to immediately withdraw the directive.
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MOSIEND said although the quick payment order on completed projects is commendable, the order for quick payment of water hyacinth jobs is raising dust in the region as to what interest Akpabio has on the water hyacinth projects.
It appealed to the minister to focus on critical issues such as the under-development of the region as well as the non-completion of the age-long East-West road in the region.
A statement on Saturday signed by its National Secretary, Amb. Winston Cotterel Amain, MOSIEND condemned Akpabio’s move to have NDDC to pay a whooping sum of 1.9billion naira as water hyacinth projects in the region.
“Water Hyacinth projects in the NDDC, has for long, served as a conduit pipe through which top officials of the board and their cronies enrich themselves at the detriment of the entire region”, the statement alleged.
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Amain stressed that the Niger Delta Minister should focus on more meaningful endeavours that are centered on the development of the region especially the completion of the East-West road, rather than meddling into NDDC affairs.
The youths called on the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Enyia Akwagaga to resist all forms of intimidation and follow due process in discharge of her duties, alleging that the beneficiaries of the water hyacinth projects were largely ghosts.
