The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has handed over the sites for the Emergency Reclamation and Shoreline Protection projects in the Onuebum and Ayakoro Communities in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, to the contractor for commencement of work.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Ayakoro Community Town Hall, the NDDC Director, Bayelsa State Office, Engr. Godknows Alamieyeseigha noted that it was necessary to formally hand over the projects and present the contractor to the Communities.

He observed that the land reclamation and shoreline protection for communities demonstrated the NDDC’s commitment to improving people’s welfare, noting that the benefitting Communities had always cooperated with the NDDC and its contractors.

Alamieyeseigha advised community members to see themselves as owners of the project and to report any abnormalities they might notice during its execution. He further urged the Communities to cooperate with the contractor to complete the project on schedule.

In his remarks, the NDDC Deputy Director, Community and Rural Development, CRD, Mr Diete Amiefamonyo, emphasised the importance of the project handover, observing that in the past, there had been interferences from other development agencies in NDDC projects.

He stated: “The NDDC introduced the project handover ceremony to end such conflicts. The project handover will enable communities to take ownership and cooperate more with contractors. Communities should refrain from stopping contractors from executing projects. They should instead approach the NDDC State Office to resolve any conflict of interest.

“The youth groups, community development committees and women leaders should all work in harmony. Furthermore, the contractors should respect the community's traditions.”

The Project Consultant, Engr. Henry Okolie, stated that the shorelines on both sides of the river were collapsing and explained that the technology being deployed for the project would help to secure more land for development, protect the land, and safeguard the road infrastructure being built in the communities.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Acting Paramount Ruler of Ayakoro Community, Chief Micah Itesi, assured that the people of Ayakoro and Onuebum would cooperate with the contractor to ensure early completion of the projects.