Taming the monster: The Ekere reformative revolution in NDDC

By Dan Etokidem

Stubbornness could be a virtue or a vice. It all depends on its application and the existing realities of time. Therefore, every leader requires a measure of stubbornness to be successful.

successful leader is that who is righteously stubborn. That is, he who knows when not to shift ground on issues of public trust, adherence to globally acceptable standards and due process.
When His Excellency, Obong Nsima Ekere took oath of office on November 4,2016 as the Managing Director of NDDC, expectations were high and limitations monumental.

He knew he had a daunting, if not intimidating task to accomplish, yet his sagacity was in abundance coupled with his patriotic zeal, passion, determination and reformative spirit. His mind was already made up to reform the governance systems and change the narrative of the Commission no matter the odds and obstacles, even if he has to step on toes to get the job done.

The date was Thursday, September 28, 2017, the time was 12 noon prompt, the venue was the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt. The event was a meeting between the MD NDDC with Project Consultants of the Commission's ongoing infrastructural development projects.

This meeting with Consultants was therefore decisive and a turning point between irreversible progress his reforms since coming on board has brought to bare in the new ways of doing things of which all stakeholders must key into or utter rumination of the NDDC, a trend he had vowed to change.

"NDDC will no longer accept low-quality projects from contractors", he warned.
“This meeting is very critical and very important to me.....The narrative of low standard projects by NDDC has to change. It is necessary that our projects be the best", he advocated.

For a man poised to changing the narrative in view of the demonstrable unprofessionalism by some Consultants in recent past, he disclosed that the NDDC since its inception has awarded contracts for about 8,558 projects across the region, but the commission has so far cancelled over 600 contracts. That's not all. "The commission was about to cancel another set of non-performing contracts", he declared.

Hate him or love him, he's determined to make a difference. Hear him, "We must do things differently. We cannot continue to perform below expectations. There is no other option".

Then he gave the paradigm shift and agenda setting of the new order. “We must redefine our standards and be faithful to globally acceptable standards and compel our contractors to abide by them. Every design and budget must be project-specific. Our contractors and consultants should think sustainability.”
To the former Akwa Ibom State Deputy Governor, the meeting was not only a stark reminder of the route towards reforms the Consultants must travel, but how necessary it must be that they travel it in line with his vision for the NDDC. Even his audience could not but admire the elegance of his vision, the force of his argument and the potential for a regional rebirth in the Niger Delta region if implemented with patriotism and professionalism.

The NDDC boss determined to face the conditions and problems on the ground as they are, not as he hopes or wishes them to be, admitted that in times past payment for projects was a major impediment towards achieving the goal and mandate of the Commission. As a way out, he informed the consultants that the NDDC was making arrangement for them, as well as the contractors, to get their payment promptly.

Then came the time to read the riot act which he did in a tone that was blunt, frank and reformative. Ekere warned the consultants to desist from the sharp practice of issuing certification for projects that have not been executed. He also warned contractors not to accept to handle a project that doesn’t come with appropriate design.

But there was another good news for both Contractors and the Niger Delta region. He stated that the Commission is devoting 70 per cent of its budget to the completion of on-going projects in the Niger Delta region and that only 30 per cent of the budget would go into new projects to enable the Commission restructure its over-bloated balance sheet.

While admitted that the Commission was saddled with huge liabilities and thus, efforts were being made to reduce the number of on-going projects, Mr Ekere told the consultants that henceforth NDDC would insist on using only proper designs on all its projects to ensure quality and timely delivery. He added: “To achieve different results for our projects, we must be prepared to do things differently. We must redefine our standards to globally acceptable standards, and compel our contractors to abide by them.

We must, indeed, collectively, reaffirm a commitment to do what is right and proper, at all times.”

The NDDC Managing Director affirmed that henceforth designs for projects must be proper and complete before execution, stressing that “the old practice of working from answer to question will no longer obtain in the Commission. We can no longer afford to put the cart before the horse.”

He urged the consultants to ensure close supervision of all projects, while insisting on the integrity and professional competence of all those engaged in project monitoring and supervision.

As key partners, he affirmed that consultants were the livewire of the projects cycle, adding: “Every project begins and ends with you. What you offer defines the strength and quality of every project.”

According to Ekere, the NDDC since inception had awarded a total of 8,558 projects across the region in various categories. According to him, the breakdown included 3,529 roads/bridges; 264 jetty/shore protection; 205 canalisation and reclamation; I, 574 energy and power supply; I, 173 water supply. Others are I, 707 buildings, such as schools, civic centres, hospitals; 38 flood and erosion control, as well as equipping and furnishing of 68 building facilities.

How far will these new reforms impact on the goal of realising the core mandate of the NDDC and change the lives of the inhabitants of the region? Only time will tell but one thing is certain, as far as the Ekere led board is concerned, its business unusual in NDDC today.