Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — President Muhammadu Buhari says the inauguration of the permanent headquarters building of the Niger Delta Development Commission, signified his administration’s effort to reposition the Commission for the overall development of the region.
Speaking at the virtual commissioning of the new headquarters complex in Marine Base, Port Harcourt, the President observed that the new headquarters building was initiated by the defunct Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission, OMPADEC, in 1996.
Buhari commended the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, for providing the required leadership that saw to the completion of the building, noting that money spent on rent would now be saved and deployed to other areas of needs in the region.
“In 2015, as part of my administration’s objectives, we started a holistic reform of the NDDC for greater service delivery for the people of the region. To achieve this goal, I reassigned the supervision of the NDDC to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs for administrative efficiency.
“Second, was the appointment of Forensic Auditors to review the operations of the NDDC from inception to 2019 to ensure that appropriations made to the NDDC are commensurate with what is on ground.
“I commend the management and staff of the NDDC for staying on course and keying into the development agenda of my administration. I am particularly pleased to note the cordial relationship between the NDDC and the National Assembly and hope that this relationship will be strengthened for the benefits of the people of the Niger Delta region.”
Earlier, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, noted that for over 15 years the old headquarters along Aba Road, was not connected to the national grid and thanked the President for making it possible for the anomaly to be halted.
“The President deserves a big reward for showing love to the people of the Niger Delta. I also thank the Interim Administrator and the former Managing Directors of the NDDC for their efforts to see to the completion of the new headquarters.”
Also, the NDDC Interim Administrator, Mr Efiong Akwa, commended President Buhari, for reassigning the Commission to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, stating that the office complex stood as a monument to what Niger Delta people stood.
Speaking on behalf of the governors of the nine Niger Delta states, Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, expressed gratitude to President Buhari for the realisation of the new headquarters.
He said that credit must be given to President Buhari for making the project a reality, saying “With the completion of the new headquarters, the NDDC will stop the money being wasted on rents and channel it to more productive ventures.”
