13,000 Projects Vandalized Across Niger Delta – NDDC Laments

A recent alarm raised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) reveals that half of the projects it has executed in the Niger Delta region have been rendered unusable and abandoned due to vandalism. Francis Abayomi, a capacity-building facilitator for the commission, stated that over 50 percent of the projects implemented across communities in the region have suffered this fate.

Abayomi disclosed that a forensic audit conducted by the agency found that out of 19,421 projects it had undertaken, approximately 13,000 were vandalized. In response to the escalating destruction, he explained that the NDDC has begun engaging local communities to take an active role in monitoring and safeguarding the projects.

According to Abayomi, who also serves as the coordinator of Peace and Development Projects, this community engagement aims to deepen development by raising awareness about the responsibilities of residents in protecting the interventionist agency’s work. He emphasized that many projects are vandalized due to ignorance and a lack of understanding that these assets belong to the communities themselves, not the NDDC.

He further urged stakeholders to avoid harassing contractors for handouts and instead ensure that project execution is thorough and durable. Abayomi noted that such accountability would guarantee the delivery of solid, long-lasting infrastructure that truly serves the people.