A report from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has revealed that a total of 1,587 projects worth N612.4 billion have been terminated or abandoned in the Niger Delta region. The report indicated that 1,262 projects valued at N407.75 billion had been terminated, while 325 projects worth N204.64 billion had been stalled or abandoned.
The report, titled ‘A sea of opportunities in the Niger Delta region,’ disclosed various aspects of the NDDC’s project portfolio, including completed, ongoing, not yet started, stalled/abandoned, terminated, and projects taken over by other agencies.
Out of a total of 7,140 NDDC projects in the region valued at N1.66 trillion, 41.9% have been completed, totaling 3,251 ongoing projects valued at N1.5 trillion (19.1%), and 5,035 projects valued at N1.45 trillion (29.5%) remain unimplemented.
The NDDC has adopted a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to secure alternative funding for key developmental projects and programs, aiming to drive sustainable development more effectively in the region. The establishment of a Public-Private Partnership Committee is part of this initiative.
Opinion: The staggering number of terminated and abandoned projects in the Niger Delta region highlights the challenges in effectively implementing and managing development projects. The adoption of a PPP model demonstrates a shift towards seeking innovative solutions, which could help address the issues of project completion and sustainable development in the region. The adoption of a Public-Private Partnership model aims to address funding and implementation issues.