President of the Federation, His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, says the Federal Government will continue to fund the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to enable it to fulfil its mandate.
President Tinubu, who made this known during the grand finale of NDDC Silver Jubilee in Port Harcourt Rivers State, said the commission has been given a mandate to complete abandoned legacy projects across Niger Delta region.
The event was to draw the curtain on the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Preceding the grand finale were many activities across the mandate states, such as Project Inauguration, World Press Conference, the Women and Youth Conference, Arts and Culture Day, among others.
Addressing the gathering, His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu who reaffirmed the commitment of Federal Government to the well-being of people of Niger Delta region, directed NDDC to engage in capacity building among the youths.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume,
President Tinubu revealed that the ongoing Coastal Highway would traverse seven NDDC mandate states.
He asked the commission to focus on agriculture for food security.
On his part, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, while explaining that NDDC was an act of parliament, gave assurance that the commission would continue to enjoy the needed appropriation to facilitate the development of the oil-rich region.
Senator Akpabio acknowledged that the President has good intentions about the development and progress of the Niger Delta.
Similarly, former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele -Jonathan who traced project abandonment to frequent changing of the board and management, asked the president to allow the current board and management to finish their tenure to be able to carry out Laudable projects.
The former president explained that the commission has had eleven Managing Directors within twenty five years, meaning each MD stayed about two years and three months in office, a time he argued was too short to execute legacy projects.
In a vote of thanks, Chairman NDDC board, Chiedu Ebie appreciated the president, National Assembly and other stakeholders for supporting the activities of the commission.
Mr. Ebie stated that many past governors and leaders of the region have stood behind the Programmes of the commission. He restated the commitment of the board to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The Managing Director NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku in a welcome address described the moment as a rare privilege for him to be at helm of affairs during the Silver Jubilee, insisting that it marked a new beginning in the annals of commission.
Dr. Ogbuku who maintained that NDDC has gone across all the mandate states in project delivery since inception, maintained, that NDDC projects were the only projects in many communities.
He stated that the commission went into partnership with International Oil Companies which led to the construction of twenty seven kilometres Ogbia Nembe Road with SPDC, in view, sixty seven kilometres Escravos Road in Delta State with Chevron , OKRIKA -Borokiri Bridge, one point two Kaa-Ataba Bridge and Bonny Ring Road in collaboration with NLNG.
On staff welfare, MD stated that the commission Bought over loans of staff from banks to enable staff be in the right frame of mind to work . He acknowledged the support from the President, Senate President, Senate and House Committees on NDDC and other stakeholders that contributed to the success of the commission.
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In virtually delivered keynote address by Director General, World Trade Organization WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala advised that it would be more beneficial to concentrate on few key projects and complete them than taking many projects at the same time and abandon them half way.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala told the people that NDDC was created to be an avenue to tackle the issues affecting the region caused by oil exploration in Niger Delta region. She suggested proper planning in project delivery.
In a goodwill message, Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, represented by Deputy Governor, lady Chinyere Ekomaru speaking on behalf of other governors of the region noted that NDDC has achieved remarkable milestones in project delivery and in other areas.
In the same vein, Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Rear Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, pledged the readiness of Rivers State to partner NDDC, saying that there was need to explore the blue economy and enrich the region.
He condemned illegal refining, insisting that it has negative effects on the environment.
