Mohammed Shosanya
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reassured that the Commission would remain steadfast in executing its mandate of fast-tracking development for the benefit of all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region.
He gave the assurance when he hosted a delegation from the Itsekiri Ethnic Nationality, led by Chief Ayiri Emami, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
A statement by commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni on Monday, quoted the NDDC Chief Executive Officer as stating that the Commission was open to all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region, adding that its mandate was to serve the people and ensure sustainable development of all communities in the region.
He said:“We all face the same challenges. Therefore, we must all work together to address our challenges, regardless of our ethnicity. These challenges, like underdevelopment and ecological problems, bring us all together.”
Ogbuku stated that President Tinubu’s administration was putting emphasis on stakeholders’ engagement, noting that the Commission had adopted that approach.
He declared that the Commission would soon organise a stakeholder’s summit to give all groups in the region the opportunity to be part of the development process.
He reiterated that as part of the Commission’s engagement with stakeholders, it visited the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, to get his buy-in on the completion of the Omadino-Escravos Road, in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State.
He noted that the project, when completed would link Warri to Escravos which is the hub of oil and gas activities in Warri Kingdom,adding that the importance of Warri in the economy of Delta State and indeed Nigeria.
He disclosed that the NDDC also met Chevron officials to discuss collaboration on- the Omadino-Escravos.
“We are working out the details of the partnership with them because we are committed to seeing to the completion of the project.”
He charged the Itsekiri delegation to continue to support the NDDC in its efforts to develop the region, advising them to avoid casting aspersions on the Commission, which he said was the only agency with visible projects in many Niger Delta communities.
Meanwhile, the Itsekiri delegation in an address read by the Secretary Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, Sir Sunny Mene, described the Ogbuku as “a detribalised Niger Deltan with conscientious tendencies, clear vision for the region, and a committed mission to turn our communities around in a way never before seen in the history of the Commission.
“Our confidence is in your ability to superintend over the overall development of the region without bias or favoritism to any ethnic group, given your antecedents in the last few years.
“This confidence is further reinforced by your sterling performance and activities across the region”, the statement quoted.
The Itsekiri group observed that some projects awarded and started by the NDDC had been abandoned or stalled.
“These projects include but are not limited to the Koko-Ogheye-Lagos Road, Warri-Omadina-Escravos Communities Road project, the Ugborodo Community Shore protection/reclamation and the Aladja-Ode-Itsekiri Highway, with Feeders to Ogbe-Ijaw.”
Prince Yemi Emiko, a Prince in Warri Kingdom, who regretted that the three per cent contributions from oil companies to the NDDC coffers had always been a problem because of the issue of trust, added that of late, the Commission had began doing things differently.
