The Niger Delta Development Commission has warned traditional rulers, youths, and community leaders against vandalising development projects executed by the commission in Cross River State.

The commission cautioned that communities that fail to protect such facilities risk being denied future interventions.

The NDDC State Director in Cross River, Daniel Ajuwa, issued the warning on Friday during a sensitisation programme held in Calabar to promote community ownership and protection of intervention projects.

Ajuwa said the awareness campaign was aimed at educating communities, civil society organisations, government agencies, and youth groups on the need to safeguard projects executed by the commission across the Niger Delta.

“This awareness campaign is very important. It helps in educating communities, civil society organisations, government agencies, and youth groups on the need to safeguard projects executed by the commission across the Niger Delta,” he said.

He lamented that despite the huge resources invested by the commission in providing solar-powered street lights and other infrastructure, some youths still vandalise the facilities for personal gain.

Ajuwa described the development as disheartening, revealing that some individuals had been captured on camera stealing components of solar lights installed in communities.

According to him, the solar lighting project was approved by the commission’s management to improve security and nighttime visibility in communities.

“We have resolved as a commission that any community that allows vandalism of our projects will not get any other intervention from NDDC. Communities must take ownership of these projects because they are meant for their benefit,” he said.

A facilitator at the programme, Carol-Bichene Ebuta, said the sensitisation was designed to strengthen community capacity to protect and sustain development projects implemented by the commission.

Ebuta noted that although the commission had executed numerous projects across the Niger Delta, many had been vandalised, abandoned, or poorly maintained.

He added that available statistics showed about 50 per cent of NDDC projects in the region were no longer functioning as originally implemented due to vandalism and lack of community ownership.

Ebuta urged residents to see government projects as community assets and organise local vigilance groups to protect them.