Contractors, Workers Express Mix-Feelings Over NDDC Elevators Break Down

As few Contractors and workers at the 13th-floor corporate headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, groan over the breakdown of all the lifts installed in the building, others on the contrary count the break down as blessings

When NewsTrack Nigeria stumbled on the story in one of the national dailies (name withheld), our reporter investigated the issue.

Our checks revealed that it is a fact that the lifts installed to aide movements within the gigantic magnificent building have not been operational over time. However, the immediate cause could not be ascertain at the time of filing this report.

According to our source close to the management, it was discovered that the elevators were wantonly abused by both workers and contractors.

It was revealed that contractors were carrying materials that far out weighs the prescribed weight by the manufacturer.

The source revealed that the workers are better of and the management is also witnessing hike in productivity as truancy is naturally on the low since no worker wants to embark on routine work-out to avoid exhaustion, thereby causing them to sit at a place and work.

According to a worker who spoke on condition of anonymity, he said: “No one can actually say what might have caused the present situation. I was aware that some of the equipment were literarily abandoned in the rain and scotching sun for almost two years before they were fixed and installed by the last Contractor that handled the building.

“I must admit that the facilities are being abused and the Sole Administrator, the Sole Administrator, Effiong Akwa has never hidden his feelings about the situation. He has even threaten to sanction those behind the recklessness and abuse of the facilities in the edifice. Who knows if locking the facilities might be one of those measures to salvage facilities in the building? We can’t certainly say”, he stated.

Meanwhile for the carelessness of some of the staff, the the beautiful walls are already being mutilated, calling for mild coating.

The Corporate headquarters of NDDC abandoned for about 25 years was completed and commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari on March 11, 2021.

The over N16bn edifice was constructed without furnishing as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who supervised the project promised that another contract would be awarded for its furnishing.

Investigations revealed that the building had provisions for six lifts with one exclusively designed and reserved for the managing director and other executive directors.

Out of the six areas provided for the facility, four were installed while two including the one designed for the Managing Director had not been procured for installation.

Our investigation reveals that the Commission has it in its plan to still procure the remaining two lifts.

Meanwhile, our checks also revealed that the installed may only require maintenance. This is not unconnected with the abandonment of some of the equipment, including the elevators before the last Construction firm that fixed Akwa was using one out of the four installed for the public until they packed up”.

The floors were simply large with clearcut demarcation since it wears American system of office organization. This is easier to check truancy and to ensure workers are put under check for effectiveness and efficiency.

There is no much separation between the Senior and Junior workers for easy supervision. Senior workers have their desks and chairs at some corners of the halls to attend to files.

Meanwhile we also recorded a reported from another news platform, which state it’s findings:

But the insider source said: “It is obvious that persons, who procured these elevators, bought the inferior ones. For an edifice like this considering the kind of money spent on this project, there are some standard lifts that should have been procured to serve this building. How can four elevators stop working at the same time”.

When contacted, the acting Director, Corporate Affairs, Paul Ughakpoteni, said efforts were being made to fix the problems saying it was not up to a month since the elevators developed issues.

He said: “Whoever told you it is up to a month is not correct. There are plans to fix them. There is provision for preventive and breakdown maintenance. Don’t forget that some of this equipment came into the country and were left unused for many years.

“Having been installed, it is expected that once in a while there will be some hitches. Even in a new house, hitches occur in fittings. How do they know substandard lifts? Who set the standard? These things are equipment. Who told you they don’t have offices? Did you see people working under the tree and homeless? Do you have the plan? People should learn to be developmental.”