By CrossRiverWatch Admin
About two weeks ago, I had a working engagement with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME), Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, on the funding challenge regarding the existing NDDC contract for the rehabilitation of the Ikom-Etomi-Agbokim Waterfalls road.
By the way, Mr. Oyedele has been doing an incredible job since taking over the leadership of the Finance Ministry. I have known him since my early days Chairing the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives, a responsibility that gave me oversight over the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), now Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS).
He was always in the room as its technical expert on tax matters while working for Price waterhouse Coopers (PwC), where he rose to become a Principal Partner.
In that meeting held two weeks ago, the Honourable Minister and I explored various funding options and he was very disposed and open to whatever was realistically feasible. It didn’t take 48 hours after the meeting for his Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Sanusi Danjuma, to get back to me with the most positive feedback I’ll be getting in years on the fate of this road.
I am happy to report that, yesterday (Wednesday) 16th September 2026, in a meeting in the office of the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties (who stood in for the Finance Minister who had to travel out of the country suddenly), in company of the Director, Cash Management and attended by the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Sammy Ogbuku and his Director of Finance and Accounts (DFA), and also with me in attendance, a major breakthrough and milestone was achieved.
The funding structure for the accelerated completion of work on the Ikom-Etomi-Agbokim Waterfalls road was agreed by all parties and to commence immediately. The implementation of this funding structure starts with the month of September and is expected to run till December.
In May of this year, I had issued a press statement after a viral post on the subject of this road, but more as an opportunity for public explanation of my continuing efforts, because of how much concern has continued to be expressed on the poor state of this road, where among other things I was confident that the government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, (GCFR), will get this road done and that the said road has incidentally always been under a legitimate NDDC contract, however the present challenge had to do with funding.
Yesterday’s development is, therefore, so very heartwarming and a major breakthrough. It’s been a long journey and thanks to the experience and previous knowledge garnered as Chairs of both the Finance and the Appropriations Committees while in the National Assembly, which enabled and gave direction to the initiative and informed the discussions with the Honourable Minister of Finance. Thanks to his understanding and leadership, and most of all, the understanding and cooperation of the Managing Director of NDDC, who by the way has given the NDDC a new positive face.
I thank Mr. President and the Honourable Minister for this development. I will continue to track the releases as planned and the return of the contractor to the site as soon as the rains allow, so that this decision is converted into visible work on ground for the benefit of our beloveth people.
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