As the need to support the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in its efforts to fast-track the development of the Niger Delta region arises, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has pledged to collaborate with the commission in order to bring a long lasting solution to the issues of underdevelopment within the region.
Speaking, Fubara who disclosed this at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, when members of the NDDC Governing Board, led by the Chairman, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, paid him a courtesy visit, hinted that the his administration would strive to give support to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu so as to bring hope to the people of the state and Niger Delta region.
Furthermore, Fubara expressed satisfaction that a team of the commission has done the right thing by embarking on this courtesy visit; assuring the team of their readiness to collaborate with all Federal Government agencies committed to the development of the Niger Delta region.
Moreso, he noted that the speech of the Chairman, Mr. Ebie, shows that NDDC has already identified more than 90 per cent of the problems facing the region and is ready to solve them; adding that they are going to support to enable them discharge their duties and prayed that his tenure as MD of the commission will record more successes than the previous boards.
However, the NDDC working 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.
Reacting to the issue of duplication of projects as highlighted by the NDDC Chairman, the Governor advised the Commission to avoid cases of duplication of projects, stating that it was very necessary to consult the states before embarking on projects in their respective territories.
According to Faburu: “By identifying the problem, the NDDC had shown that it was ready to address the challenge which had often caused some frictions between the states and the Commission.
“I assure the NDDC Board members that my administration is open to partnership and collaboration in the execution of projects, I urge the Commission to embark on projects that would add value to the lives of the people of the region.”
In his own view, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, who commended the State Government for hosting the Commission since its inception in 2000; announced that the NDDC Board was inaugurated on November 16.
“As our host governor, we thought it wise to pay you this courtesy visit before holding our inaugural meeting.
“We need to create a new life in the NDDC and collaborate more with development partners, including the state governments and other stakeholders in the region to achieve our objectives. I know that we have had problems with duplication of projects. Henceforth, representatives of the states in the NDDC Board must be in constant touch with their state governments and ensure that projects are based on needs assessment”, Mr. Ebie noted.
Meanwhile, the NDDC Chairman had assured the Governor that the new Board would work in synergy with governors in the nine states covered by the Commission.
