Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — A coalition of Niger Delta women leaders has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address the issue of funds owed to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to enable it fast-track the development of the Niger Delta region.
The group, led by its President, Lady Annkio Briggs, made the plea when the coalition, comprising various associations, had an interactive session with the management of the NDDC at its headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The group gave a thumb-up to the Commission for providing a platform for stakeholders to make meaningful suggestions on the development of the region and opined that the management of NDDC under the leadership of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku had all it takes to change the old narrative.
“We understand that funding is one of the major challenges facing the NDDC, we want to use this opportunity to call on Mr. President to, urgently address the issue of funds the Commission is being owed so that the Commission can accelerate on its level of development,” the group said.
While noting the feats recorded in the area of projects, the group assured that it would continue to give its support to the Commission to meet its set goals. “We are seeing the projects that have been executed by the Commission. We see the road infrastructure, scholarship awards, solar electrification projects in the region and many more. The Commission is doing well under your leadership and we take note that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu listens to the voices of the people of the region who did not relent in calling for your re-appointment.”
The coalition further stressed the need to utilise funds allocated to the Commission to develop the region given its economic contributions to the country as it was determined to ensure that the region was not short-changed. The Coalition admonished detractors to refrain from endless blackmail and campaign of calumny against the Commission, as such practice was anti-people and anti-progress. “We want a total involvement of women in all your programmes with special discretion.”
Responding, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the interaction was necessary to provide a platform for opinions and useful suggestions on how to drive the development process in the Niger Delta region.
He observed: “The reason for this interactive session is for us to know those things that bother you. We have our plans in the pipeline and these plans may not be perfect, and they are aimed at serving you and we can only serve you better if you also contribute towards the process of achieving those plans. I want you to be rest assured that most of your contributions will be carefully looked into, studied and where we need to make modifications to suit our operations, we will carry out these modifications.”
Ogbuku said that since assumption of office, NDDC had been on its toes to achieve its statutory mandate, adding that conscious efforts were being made to empower women.
He observed that the Commission introduced a youth development and empowerment scheme, known as Holistic Opportunities, Projects and Engagement, HOPE, to create a comprehensive database of the youth population of the Niger Delta region.
In promoting entrepreneurship and youth empowerment, Ogbuku said that the NDDC was collaborating with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, and other bodies to ensure the sustainability of its programmes.
