Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF has applauded the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for its massive electrification of rural communities through the Light Up the Niger Delta project.
The National Chairman of PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, gave the plaudits when he led leaders of various Niger Delta groups to meet with the NDDC management team at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Ibok-Essien said that the leaders were delighted by the efforts of the NDDC to light up communities across the Niger Delta states, noting that it would help in fighting criminality in the region.
He said, “The rural electrification projects have not only enhanced the aesthetics of these areas but also contributed to reducing nocturnal security challenges. We encourage the Commission to extend this initiative to all communities and ensure the training of local manpower for the effective maintenance of these facilities.
“We note the successes you have recorded, such as your Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, on shared aspirations and that on corporate governance with KPMG. We do hope to see that these interactions and engagements will generate positive fruits of development soonest.”
Addressing the Niger Delta leaders, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Ogbuku, announced that the Commission would hold a Niger Delta Stakeholders’ Summit in July to articulate new strategies for driving the development of the Niger Delta region.
“One of the cardinal policies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is stakeholders’ engagement and that is one area the NDDC is doing very well and we are getting good results from it.”
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer affirmed the positive impact of the “Light Up the Niger Delta” campaign, which he observed had reduced criminality in the various communities and enhanced commercial activities in the areas.
He noted: “We decided to adopt the clean energy approach which not only provides light but helps in the fight to mitigate the effects of climate change on our environment and earn carbon credits for the Commission.”
Ogbuku further said the Commission was making progress with its youth development and empowerment scheme, known as Holistic Opportunities, Projects and Engagement, HOPE, which was building a comprehensive database of the youth population of the Niger Delta region.
He called on the youths of the Niger Delta region to ensure that they were registered on the website of project HOPE, which would benefit all Niger Delta youths.
“We have also inaugurated the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, which along with the Bank of Industry will serve as a platform for supporting young entrepreneurs in the region on a sustainable basis.
