The Niger Delta Enterprise Initiative (NDEI) has called on Niger Delta Governors to complete abandoned projects started by their predecessors before embarking on the award of new contracts.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Programme Coordinator, George Kerley, the group stated that over N4 trillion worth of projects lie abandoned across the Niger Delta “largely because successor Governors prefer to award brand new legacy contracts rather than complete worthwhile projects which were started by their predecessors.”

The group also called on Governors to desist from awarding contracts for “white elephant projects that will not serve the immediate needs of the people as these projects do not only tie down badly needed funds but also tie down human capital and waste too much time.”

NDEI alleged that most of the abandoned projects are white elephant projects for which feasibility studies and diligence were not properly carried out.

Citing specific examples, the group listed the Port Harcourt Monorail Project in Rivers State for which more than N40bn was paid out to the contractors. “Today, the project stands out as an eyesore in the Port Harcourt landscape. Besides, the initial technical partners for the project have long left,” NDEI said.

The group also cited the Bayelsa Tower Hotel Project, which was conceived and started during the tenure of late Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha but has long been abandoned after more than N10bn had been injected into it.

NDEI also listed two other multibillion-naira projects in Rivers State, “which were abandoned largely as a result of poor planning, poor feasibility studies, faulty budgeting and a poor knowledge of the workings of public private partnerships.”

NDEI said: “These include the Karibi-Whyte Mega Hospital Project and the Mega Bus Terminals for which the Rivers State Government under former Governor Rotimi Amaechi paid about $19m and more than N5bn respectively. Today, there is nothing to show for all the billions of naira that have been sunk into these projects.”

The group stated that with the huge drop in monthly allocation, Governors of the Niger Delta states should focus on people-centered projects in order to achieve strong value for money.

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