Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has restated his administration’s commitment to Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, inclusion in its efforts to fast-track the development of the Niger Delta region; tasking the Board and management to seek collaboration in order to achieve peace and development within the region.
His Excellency, who disclosed this recently, at the Akwa Ibom State Government House, Uyo, during a courtesy visit by members of the NDDC Governing Board, led by the Chairman, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, hinted that the state government was willing to work with the Commission to bring development to the region which according to him, produces the oil resources of the nation.
Eno, who appreciated the members of the Board for making effort to partner with Akwa Ibom State Government, announced that cooperation and collaboration should be the way forward; while encouraging the NDDC leadership to endeavor to ensure that the Commission’s intervention were in tandem with the efforts of the state governments, he expressed that this had never happened before.
Moreso, Governor tasked the Commission to desist from cases of duplication of projects; stressing the need for the commission to ensure it connects to state’s awareness before starting up any projects in their various territories.
The NDDC team included the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the Executive Director,Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai; the Executive,Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, other members of the Board and directors of the Commission.
According to Eno : “The Awa Ibom State Government would support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bring hope to the people of the state and Niger Delta region.
“We are moving beyond being the land of promise to the land of fulfillment.”
In his own view, the Chairman of the NDDC Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, declared that the Commission was ever ready to partner with governors of Niger Delta states to ensure that the oil-producing states enjoy sustainable development.
He further stated that the Commission’s Board was set to do things differently and will function according to the modus operandi of the commission in order to achieve the best out of the region for the benefits of the Niger Deltans.
He said: “We are in Akwa Ibom State for our Board and Management Retreat which will discuss a new era for vitality, peace and development. We have followed keenly the developmental strides of your administration since inception, particularly in the areas of agriculture and aviation sectors.
“For us to achieve the enormous task of developing the region, it is pertinent that we enhance collaboration with state governments by working closely in our development programmes and projects. Henceforth, representatives of the states in the NDDC Board will be in constant touch with their state governments and ensure that projects are based on needs assessment.”
