Mkpoikana Udoma 18 June 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Delta State Government have agreed to pull resources together for the construction of the Omadino-Okerenkoko-Escravos Road, as part of the on-going collaboration with governments of the nine Niger Delta states.
The road is expected to provide access to the Maritime University, Okerenkoko Escravos Gas Terminal, and other communities in one of the major oil and gas hubs of the Niger Delta.
A statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs of NDDC, Mr. Ibitoye Abosede, said the groundwork for the partnership was laid when members of the NDDC Board and Management, led by its Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, paid a courtesy visit to Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, at Government House, Asaba.
The statement said Dr. Okowa advised that the budgetary process of the interventionist agency needed to be reviewed, stating that this was necessary to ensure that projects were adequately provided for in its annual budgets to bridge funding gaps.
The statement further said the Chairman of the NDDC board, Senator Ndoma-Egba, noted that it was necessary to revive the Advisory Committee because the NDDC must work with the government of the member states to ensure that they took ownership of its projects and programmes, as well as check the duplication of projects.
Senator Ndoma-Egba, in the statement, also maintained that NDDC must be futuristic in planning for the development of the Niger Delta, adding that the NDDC board in its last meeting approved the development of Information Communication Technology, ICT, infrastructure in the region.
