The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Christian Oboh has called on the banking sector to join hands with the commission in the task of developing the Niger Delta region.
Dr. Oboh made the call when officials of First Bank PLC led by the Group Managing Director, Mr. Bisi Onosoya paid him a visit at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
He noted the critical role of the banking sector in nation building, and will be willing to collaborate with banks ready to mobilize funds for meaningful projects in the region.
Worried by the attitude of First Bank towards releasing money to contractors for projects execution, the NDDC chief executive, who was flanked by top management officials of the commission, frowned at the banks refusal to release funds to contractors for job execution even with the commission’s intervention
“In the next few days we will like to meet with such banks because we have a marching order to clean up all projects that are ongoing” he said.
The Group Managing Director of First Bank, Mr. Bisi Onasonya who had earlier promised that the bank will always share in the aspirations of the NDDC in bringing about the desired change in the region, acknowledged the long sewn relationship between the bank and the commission and promised to stay in partnership with NDDC especially in the area of sports sponsorship.
They agreed that there has been a disconnect between the bank, contractors and NDDC, but promised that the gap will be bridged immediately.