Work on the 13-floor permanent Headquarters complex of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), at the Eastern By-Pass, Port Harcourt, has gathered momentum in keeping with the Commission’s resolve to deliver on the project by March 2020.
The NDDC Acting Managing Director, Dr Akwagaga Lelegima Enyia, who inspected the project on Tuesday in the company of the Director Project Monitoring and Supervision, Engr Ukeme Nkamare, affirmed that appreciable progress had been made at the site since her last inspection visit a few weeks ago.
Dr Enyia expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the main building, as well as the ancillary structures, stating that the increased tempo of activities was a reflection of the improved funding for the project.
She said: “I am satisfied with the way the fund released so far is being utilized. The work is progressing satisfactorily, and the contractors have promised that by March 2020, we will be able to move into the building. I believe that with the pace of work, the contractors will meet the target.
“Before this time, we had the challenge of funding. But since I came on board, I have released some funds and I can say that we are getting value for the money we have committed to the project. Since funds have been provided, we are now fast-tracking the process to meet the deadlines we have set for the completion of the project.”
The NDDC boss observed that the main building, which was at 39 per cent completion before the release of funds, had moved up to 60 per cent, while the ancillary building has reached 40 per cent completion.
Dr Enyia said she was also satisfied with the quality of work being done by the various contractors, whom she said were doing their best, as they were being supervised by qualified NDDC engineers who were making sure that standards were not compromised.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer, who carried out an audit of work done as it relates to the project work plan, with the project managers and engineers, said she was satisfied with the milestones achieved so far.
The Project Manager, Architect Clement Udie, and the Coordinator for the contractors, Architect Felix Darko, assured the Acting MD that no effort would be spared to ensure that the contractors kept to the timelines for the delivery of the various components of the project.
