Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has handed over the nine state-of-the-art strategic security projects executed by its commission in Ayakoro, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, to the Former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, for commissioning.
According to the Commander, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Noel Madugu, who stood the ground for the former Navy Chief, noted that the operational facilities received would bolster the Nigerian Navy’s presence and security operations; observing that Ayakoro town being situated on the river, necessitated the rise for maritime security in the Niger Delta region.
While commending the vision and commitment of the leadership of the NDDC for citing the security project, he called for community support in intelligence sharing to enhance the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Navy.
In his words: “I commend the vision and commitment of the leadership of the NDDC for citing the security project at Ayakoro with a view of addressing security challenges associated with the maritime environment in the region.
“The event we are witnessing today is a statement of the existing close collaboration between the NDDC and the Nigerian Navy, which is geared towards addressing maritime security challenges in the region.
“The Navy will spare no effort to ensure that objectives for which the security projects are provided will be fully realised.”
Responding, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri, stated that the Niger Delta region contributes substantially to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, noting that it was evident that most of Nigeria’s maritime domain and international coastline outside of Lagos, all of which are within the Gulf of Guinea, are in the coast of the Niger Delta.
Governor Diri, who was represented by the Brigadier General Eric Angaye (Rtd.), stated that the Niger Delta region was critical to Nigeria’s oil economy.
Also speaking, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, hinted that security and development are interconnected and that a strong partnership with security agencies was crucial for sustainable development in the region.
He restated the commission’s commitment to supporting security agencies in securing the waterways; noting that the increased output of Nigeria’s crude oil was dependent on a secure marine environment, which required sustained collaboration with security forces.
The NDDC Boss recalled the commission’s history of providing infrastructure and other forms of support to the Nigerian Navy, which includes: Building jetties for naval operations, Constructing schools and other infrastructure within naval bases and assisting in the completion of numerous other projects at naval installations.
Speaking further, he maintained on the need for collaboration to ensure that the Niger Delta region remained peaceful, declaring that except there be an atmosphere of peace and security, development will not be recorded.
Ogbuku stated: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the peace and development of the Niger Delta region, and he has given us a matching order to embark on legacy projects that will stand the test of time and impact lives in the region. We cannot achieve this if there is no peace.
“For us in NDDC, we will continue to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure that there is sustainable peace that will usher in development.”
Moreso, the Acting Paramount Ruler of Ayakoro, Chief Micah Etebi, in his own view, announced that the projects handed over to the Navy were a living testaments that the NDDC is indeed impactful to not just Ayakoro community but also to the people of the Niger Delta region at large.
In his account of records regarding the projects, the NDDC Executive Director of Projects, Dr Victor Antai, listed the various projects scheduled for commissioning as follows:
Fully Furnished Administrative block; Fully Furnished Accommodation block; Fully furnished 40-man houseboat with two units of 100kva Generators; two units of Gun Boats powered by 200 Hp units of Yamaha engines each; The host to God community, Ayakoro, will give the Nigerian Navy hectares of land as a gift to build a Navy school; A 60kVA Solar inverter installed in the Administrative and Accommodation blocks, respectively, as backup power; A 30kVA Solar inverter installed in the 40-man houseboats as backup power; A full-option Toyota Hilux Vehicle for Operational use; A Newly Built Operational Floating Jetty.”
According to him, this was initiated to improve maritime security in the region, address critical needs and ensure the safety of both local communities and maritime activities. He added that NDDC remains committed to making a difference in the Niger Delta, fostering a more secure and sustainable environment.
