Mkpoikana Udoma
13 June 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Nsima Ekere, has charged Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, to promote peace, stability and security to aid the development process of the region.
Ekere speaking when the newly elected national executives of TROMPCON paid him a courtesy visit at NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, stated that the Commission was conscious of the critical role monarchs played in the national development and the economic growth of the country.
The NDDC boss urged the traditional rulers to continue to contribute their quota to the peace and security of the region and by extension, the entire country.
He added that the Niger Delta region was occupying a very important position in the country and that the region and indeed Nigeria needed peace and stability at these trying times.
“We need stability in our country because that is one sure way of attracting foreign direct investments. It will also help our businessmen to grow their investments.
“We are the goose that lays the golden eggs and the stability of the region translates to economic prosperity for Nigeria.
“We have a duty to continue to show total commitment, respect and support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Federal Government has in the last three years shown an unwavering commitment to national growth and development. The President has also shown an uncommon passion to fight the ills of our society, especially corruption.”
Ekere also congratulated members of the newly elected national executive of TROMPCON, stating that they were chosen because of their pedigree as distinguished traditional rulers. He assured them that NDDC would sustain the support that it had always given to TROMPCON.
For his part, the National Chairman of TROMPCON, Dr. Effiong Archianga, congratulated NDDC on its achievements in providing basic infrastructures such as roads and other development facilities in the nine oil-producing states in the Niger Delta region, in spite of lean financial resources.
Archianga said that as a father, TROMPCON had always stood by NDDC, especially in advocating increased funding from the federal and state governments, as well as oil companies in other to fast-track development in the Niger Delta region.
The TROMPCON Chairman said that traditional rulers are the major stakeholders in the region and should be actively involved or be consulted on important issues, especially the determination of projects and their locations in various communities to ensure effective monitoring and early completion of jobs.
He lamented what he called the unfair treatment of the Niger Delta region by the lopsided appointments into the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC board, “where 10 directors are from the North, three from the South West and only two directors from the South-South, the area which produces 90 per cent of the oil and gas of the country,” he said.
