*Inaugurates Five Abandoned Mega Projects In Niger Delta
*Urges IOCs To Remit Over $700m Outstanding Contribution
THE Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has vowed to complete all previously abandoned projects litter across the Niger Delta, just as it has completed and inaugurated five such mega-regional projects in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, mandating it to complete and inaugurate all abandoned ongoing projects designed to link states and communities in the region.
Speaking virtually at the NDDC’s media engagement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Thursday, may 30, NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the recent inauguration of the mega projects in Abia, Edo, Ondo, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states was a testimony of the new passion of the commission to deliver on the mandate, assuring that commission would continue to adhere to the presidential mandate.
Ogbuku listed the inaugurated projects as the 132/33kv electricity sub-station at Ode-Erinje in Okitipupa Local Council of Ondo State; the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State, executed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC); the 600-meter Ibeno Bridge and the 6.87km Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-IwuoAchang Road in Ibeno Local Council of Akwa Ibom State and the 9-kilometre Obehie-Oke-Ikpe Road in Ukwa West Local Council of Abia State.
In his presentation, the Executive Director of Projects, Mr. Victor Antai, added that the commission has constructed and rehabilitated 5,141.3km of roads through swamps and virgin forests and built 42 bridges, thousands of hydraulic structures, and 87 jetties across the region.
He said that the NDDC resumed its Free Healthcare Programme to cater to the needs of rural communities as part of its commitment to enhance healthcare delivery to the people, adding: “In the ongoing free medical outreach across the nine Niger Delta states, 20,000 surgeries have been performed, while 45,000 patients have been attended to and 27,000 eyeglasses distributed.”
In the education sector, the commission’s Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme has so far benefitted about 2,323 students in the region, while “we have commenced the process for the 2024/2025 scholarship programme.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Director of Corporate Services, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, acknowledged the contributions of the media to the growth of democracy and public accountability.
He said: “Today, NDDC is setting a landmark precedent in its engagement with the Press. This strategic engagement is in line with the new management’s mantra of Transition from Transactions to Transformation (TTT).
“Consequently, the management of NDDC has decided to transition from sectional engagement with the Press to a more elaborate and strategic engagement to solidify our partnership and strengthen our bond with the press.
“The current Board and Management, under the leadership of Mr. Chiedu Ebie and Ogbuku as Chairman and Managing Director, respectively, is poised to establish a sustainable partnership with the Press through periodic region-wide media engagement, while promoting good journalism within the remit of our mandate as an interventionist agency.”
Recall that Tinubu inaugurated the 600-metre bridge project linking 20 communities in the Ibeno Local Council of Akwa Ibom State, a component of the Iko-Atabrikang-Akata-Opolom-Okoroutip-Iwouchang road (Section II), which was completed by the NDDC, on Tuesday, May 28.
Speaking during the inauguration, Tinubu, who was represented by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, commended the NDDC management for touching the lives of the people of the Niger Delta.
Meanwhile, Ogbuku has expressed the commitment of NDDC to complete and commission all ongoing projects across the Niger Delta region, as mandated by the President.
