At the onset of the first few years of the twenty-first century AD, all developing nations caught napping in the doldrums of underdevelopment woke up to the rude reality of the fact that no nation or people can achieve development or harvest it from another without its foremost pre-requisite – technology- especially Communications Technology for a start. This is why a preponderance of Nigerians have come to agree that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s civilian administration has impacted more on their economic lives than any other post-colonial one so far; mainly due to its birthing of the Internet Communication System in the country. Next to Agriculture, it offers the next highest quantum of relief to the nation’s suicidal level of youth unemployment. The system is regulated. through the Nigerian Communications Commission which the government uses, on behalf of the people, to maintain a handle on possible abuses and the growth of the industry.
Tijani Bosun, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy
Youths unemployment with its multi-dimensional drawbacks presently constitutes Nigeria’s worst security problem, competing. for first position in history with its 1967-70 civil war. A great portion of the nation’s peoples and nationalities are staring possible extinction in the eyes as a result of the security implications of the menace. Idoma nation, occupying the geographical space which constitutes zone C of Benue’s three Senatorial districts has been at the receiving end of socio-economic challenges whose core elements have their roots in prevailing dehumanizing poverty and massive unemployment.
Between the 8th and 9th of December 2023, Executive Committee members, led by the Chairmen of all Idoma Community Development Associations and all diaspora Idoma cultural fathers known as Ad’Idomas from all over Nigeria as well as all first, second and third class bided and appointed chiefs in the homeland paid a historical solidarity and empathy visit to the Och’Idoma V, Agaba-Idu HRM, Dr. Elaigwu Odobo John. Their visit, according to a communiqué released at the end of the event was necessitated in the main by a number of unfortunate situations on the grounds in the homeland about which the Och’Idoma had demonstrated public concerns. Top on the list of the humiliating turn of events that activated their visit was the horrendous attack by brazen armed robbers on Otukpo town, the political and Ancestral headquarters of Idoma nation in October last year which resulted into the loss of lives of citizens and senior security personnel as well as unquantifiable value of properties. His Royal Majesty and his visitors brainstormed for all of two days during which plans were put in place on how to turn around the cultural and socio-economic future of Idoma nation. Public Affairs Analysts who have spoken to Wind Sound Africa since the event are however skeptical about that aspect of any plan that concerns Idoma land youth unemployment, aggravated by the humiliating memory of the robbery and continuous kidnappings almost on daily bases which does not attract wider participation. According to those who spoke to us on conditions of anonymity, while His Royal Majesty, providing leadership and expressed determination to change the tide with the involvement of the citizen and community leaders is a worthy plan, this ambition needs wider supports in the area of massive unemployment which is the main cause of armed robbery.
Sen. Abbah Moro, Senator, Federal Republic of Nigeria
According to them, Governmental Agencies and political leaders are needed on board to make meaningful impacts at this front. This is why the abandoned Regional Headquarters of Nigerian Communications Commission building project in Otukpo town should be taken up by all Cultural, Developmental, Political and Youth leaderships of Idoma nation. Discreet investigations by our sources in Otukpo have indicated that the gigantic abandoned structure is one of the places highly suspected to have offered post operation hide out for the infamous Otukpo armed robbers in October last year. Our investigations also confirmed that the four story building which doors had been installed, plastering and paint work started and aluminum window materials supplied before the abandonment has had most of its fittings vandalized by thieves who have continuously invaded the structure over the years.
Long the course of our enquiries, Wind Sound Africa sited documents confirming the supply of all the required aluminum fittings for the entire building to the main contractor who took custody of the items in anticipation of their installation after paintwork and due payments which never materialized from NCC. The fittings are alleged to have all been looted by thieves. Comparative Analysis carried out by us tentatively prove that had the Regional Headquarters been completed and put to use as planned since 2013, the ease-of-doing-business its operations would have facilitated in the area of telephone and allied services delivery for investors and job seekers would have raked in billions of naira for Idomaland residents and millions of direct and indirect jobs for unemployed youths.
The abandoned NCC Regional Headquarters in Otukpo, Benue State
According to our findings, the Nigerian Communications Commission awarded the contract for the construction of its regional headquarters in Otukpo, Benue State to an indigenous construction film since as far back as 2012 with a 48 weeks project completion proviso. While the total contract sum was over 200million naira, fifteen percent of it was reportedly paid eight months after the contractor had mobilized to site. Our findings indicate that project completion target compliance speed of work was maintained and a valuation report that would have seen the project to its timely completion was submitted to the Commission in August 2013 but accruable payments were not made until nine months later, in February 2014, when the amount paid was a far cry from what was expected to take the project close to its completion level, even as building materials significant change in costs had seriously affected the project’s initial cost. A number of letters written to the Commission by the projects Consultants to avert its abandonment did not elicit expected actions.
Arch. Inalegwu Ella Elder Statesman And Senior Partner at Ella & Associates, the Project’s Consultant
Our findings indicate that slightly above 80million naira has been paid to the contractor while the project which had attained about 80% completion level has been vandalized to a state of constituting a security threat to the community that hosts it. A call to the Commission’s headquarters on the state of the project had yet to be responded to as at the time of filing this report. The project’s Consultants told Wind Sound Africa that the its abandonment which leaves a bitter taste in the mouth is avoidable but they would prefer to maintain a dignified silence over the details. The last Stakeholders meeting on the project was held at the Commission’s headquarters in 2017. Residents living around the vicinity of the project in former Football Field area of Otukpo told us that the abandoned project site simply constitutes a nightmare zone to them in both night and day times.
