The Niger Delta Development Commission has debunked claims by the Bayelsa State Government on the rehabilitation of 14 roads in the state.
The Acting Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, in a statement in Yenagoa on Sunday described as “untrue and shocking” recent claims by the Bayelsa State Government that it was intervening on the same roads being rehabilitated by the agency.
She listed the roads as Oporuma-Sabageria-Polaku road in Opokuma Local Government and Odi-Trofani road.
In Yenagoa, the roads are: Otiotio Road DooGood Street, Goodnews Street, Azikoro, Shepherd Vine Road, Capt. Ayeni Street; Saptex Road, Yenizue-Epie; INEC Road, Kpansia; Jasmine Suite Road, Erepa Road and NIIT Road.
Others are the Dimrose-Green; Villa-Custom Link Roads 1 & 2, Biogbolo; and Toolda Road, Ekeki, all in Yenagoa.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, the Commissioner for Information in Bayelsa had, on Saturday, said ongoing emergency repairs on roads were the handiwork of the state government.
The managing director regretted that rather than commend the NDDC, the Bayelsa government resorted to misinformation.
“Such deliberate falsehood erodes public trust in authorities,” Semenitari said, adding that the emergency work was meant to relieve the government of some burden.
“The NDDC saw gaps in road infrastructure across its nine mandate states and the urgent need to intervene and after a management meeting, decided to act as to provide relief to motorists and other road users,” she said.
“So the option of emergency road repairs came handy as it would afford immediate remedial solutions, relieve states of financial burden and enhance inter and intra-city communications.”
“Under this intervention, hitherto impassable roads have become usable routes thereby boosting economic activity and improving livelihood of the people.”
She said the NDDC would not engage Bayelsa in war of words but it was necessary to leave the public with the correct information in the interest of “good governance and sustainable development.”
(NAN)
