The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has registered 3.2 million youths in its Holistic Opportunities Programmes for Engagement (Project HOPE) following the launching of the scheme’s first phase on July 4, 2023.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed the figure when he launched the second phase of the programme at the Rivers State Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Centre in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Ogbuku said that Project HOPE was conceived out of the necessity to address the pressing challenges facing the youths, especially in the area of employment and the lack of opportunities for meaningful engagement.
He said that the first phase entailed designing and deploying a digital platform for data collection, analysis, and creating a parameter for the programme implementation.
Ogbuku said: “The second phase is the implementation phase of eight meticulously designed programmes aimed at creating jobs and empowering our youth across various sectors such as agriculture and technology.
“The success of Project HOPE requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders. I extend an open invitation to government entities, private sector players, international partners, community leaders, and non-governmental organizations to join us in this noble venture”.
He advised Niger Delta youths to embrace the opportunities with zeal and determination, saying: “You are the architects of your destiny and the catalysts for regional transformation.”
Ogbuku added: “Over the years what has been happening is that because of political interests, people are given slots to nominate participants for empowerment programmes and most of these participants never had a passion for these training programmes.
“After the training programmes, you see people selling off the starter packs and other equipment that were given to them after the training.
“In this case, we believe that once we pick you from the data based on your area of interest and passion, you are going to excel from there. And since you are in our database, we will also have our monitoring process to track your performance.”
In his address, the NDDC Executive Director, Project, Sir Victor Antai, said that Project HOPE was more than just a project.
He said: “It is a beacon of optimism and a catalyst for change. Conceived under the insightful leadership of our Managing Director. This initiative aims to harness the potential of our youth and provide them with viable avenues for self-actualization and economic empowerment.’
“The second phase we are launching today focuses on the implementation of eight strategic programmes, including Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (Mili-Tech). Apart from technology, Project HOPE aims to cover other key areas, such as music and arts, entrepreneurial development, marine, and internship.”
“Our emphasis on technology, particularly the “Mili-Tech” programme, represents a significant shift. By equipping our youth with modern technological skills, we are positioning them to compete globally and drive innovation within our region.
Antai observed: “In a rapidly digitalizing world, transitioning from militancy to technology is imperative. We are equipping our youth with skills in structured cabling, data analysis, animation, and software development, thereby opening doors to global opportunities.”
He said that the success of Project HOPE depended on collaboration and urged government agencies, private sector partners, non-governmental organizations, community leaders, and the youths to wholeheartedly embrace the initiative.
In his goodwill message, the Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Dr. Chisom Wali commended the NDDC for taking the initiative to partner with the Rivers State Government.
In his remarks, the resource person for Project HOPE, Ambassador Blessing Fubara, affirmed that the second phase of the programme would commence with eight quick impact action specimens, adding that the time had come for a serious development model to kick off in the Niger Delta region.
To further drive its vision and mission, NDDC has established a chamber of commerce to boost the region’s economy and promote youths’ entrepreneurial skills, Ibrahim Adam reports
This innovation holds the key to economic growth and prosperity for the people of Niger Delta who have longed for a forum where they can get guidance and assistance in developing their businesses in all ramifications.
Interestingly, the chamber is all-encompassing as it accommodates the business sectors in the region in the diverse areas of commerce, industry, trade, mines and agriculture.
The objective is to invigorate trade and commerce development from the nano business level through the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to the large organisation. To achieve this lofty objective, the chamber is collaborating with NDDC, and other institutions within and outside the region.
According to the Chairman of NDCCITMA, Ambassador, Idaere Ogan, the primary objective of the organisation is to work closely with NDDC to pursue its vision for the region, implement its mandate and bring development to the people.
He acknowledged the visionary leadership of NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, and his team for the initiative to promote the establishment of NDCCITMA.
Ogan declared: “The successful establishment of NDCCITMA is one of the numerous success stories of NDDC under Dr Ogbuku’s leadership.
“The NDDC management desirous of taking development to the grass roots, while improving the economic activities of the Niger Delta, thought it wise to use the chamber as a tool for development that will encompass the involvement of the very informal sector (artisanal, nano and micro), small, medium and the large scale businesses or companies.
The commission also envisioned a situation where active collaboration with the chamber will enhance its drive in achieving its vision and thereby boost the development of the region through commerce, trade, industry and agriculture.”
To NDDCITMA Secretary, Dr Solomon Edebiri, “the establishment of the chamber is one of the numerous success stories of the NDDC. The process further attests to the commitment, strength and tenacity of the commission, when it comes to the delivery of projects that will enhance the region economically and ginger the people in multiple disciplines.”
The chamber is expected to enhance NDDC’s drive in achieving its vision and mission with a view to boosting the development of the region through commerce, trade and industry.
Being that chambers of commerce are seen as a community development tool in aid of development, the organisational structure anchors on the intellectual strength of economically savvy Niger Deltans. Thus, members of the board are selected from across the states of the region with contributions from National Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), as it is mandatory for all chambers of commerce in the country to be registered with NACCIMA.
The collaboration of the chambers of commerce and the NDDC is guided by a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to actualise the set goals of the two development agents in providing and attracting support, ideas, resources and growth for the economic, commercial, industrial and agricultural development of the region.
Ogbuku said NDDCCITMA would promote the growth of entrepreneurs as the NDDC is already taking measures to ensure that businesses flourish in the region. He cited the commission’s policy of transiting from transaction to transformation as one of such measures.
He said the commission was partnering with the Bank of Industry (BoI) by providing N30 billion to fund projects and support businesses to facilitate the success of the commission’s youth development programmes. The collaboration, he said, would ensure the sustenance of NDDC’s youth development programmes.
Ogbuku said: “With BoI in the mix, youths in rural areas can be sure of receiving support through the MSMEs programme, while those in urban centres will be assisted under the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) category.”
He said the chamber would attract new businesses and technologies to the region, support new businesses through networking, and ensure growth in its economy.
According to him, the biggest asset for the chamber is the people of the region, and as such, the registration will provide a comprehensive data base for the development of entrepreneurial activities.
He advised all contractors with the NDDC to register with the chamber so as to serve as a guarantee for its operations.
The NDCCITMA initiative comes with many benefits. It promises to be a light that will shine on the region in the areas of commerce, trade, industry and agriculture.
Some of the benefits include access to capacity building through training, retraining, internship and apprenticeship; network and integration promotion among the people of the region through membership of the chamber as well as engineering a new way of doing business among them in line with global best practices.
It will also provide the people a platform for strategic partnership between organisations within and outside the region to quicken the actualisation of goals and grow the economy.
Its promoter, NDDC, will benefit in so many ways. NDDCITMA will be its tool for business development through partnership and collaboration.
The chamber will provide a symbiotic link between the NDDC and the business community, as well as provide a platform for effective provision of internship opportunities to youths of the region.
The managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has dismissed insinuations in some quarters that his tenure on the board of the commission will end this year.
Ogbuku blamed the insinuations on selfish detractors saying they were not happy that the current board members were working harmoniously to actualise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He clarified that members of the current Governing Board were screened and confirmed to serve for four years by the Senate.
Speaking at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku said the insinuations abridging his tenure were false and without any foundation.
He said that subject to the provision of section 4 of the NDDC Establishment Act, “a member of the board other than an ex-officio member, shall hold office for a term of four years at the first instance and may be reappointed for a further term of four years and no more.”
Ogbuku lamented that despite the efforts of the NDDC board and management to deliver quality projects and programmes, some persons with selfish motives were working behind the scenes to return the commission to the days of instability and non-performance.
He said that nothing would distract the NDDC board and management from holding fast to its mantra of transiting from transactions to transformation.
Ogbuku advised those scheming for a change of batons at NDDC to hold their horses as President Tinubu re-appointed him for another term of four years, adding that the region should be ready to see more people-oriented projects and programmes.
He assured that as soon as the 2024 budget of the commission was signed into law, the ongoing efforts to complete legacy projects would gain momentum.
He said that the plan in the budget was to raise N1tn from development and commercial banks for the completion of legacy projects spread across the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku explained that the legacy projects were regional roads, bridges, electricity projects, school buildings, hospitals, shore reclamation and protection, among others.
He also outlined recent initiatives of the Board, including the Niger Delta Stakeholders’ Summit, which he said was a culmination of other engagements with the youth groups and women.
He assured that the resolutions of the summit would inform future actions, noting that the communique would be presented to President Tinubu.
Speaking on the NDDC Healthcare programme, which catered for the needs of rural communities, Ogbuku said that the recent free medical outreaches across the nine states of the region, were successful and that there was a plan for holding the event biannually.
He said that the commission had acquired and distributed 13 ambulances to regional hospitals in response to a cholera outbreak and was working to secure more ambulances and cholera vaccines to prevent further incidents.
In the education sector, the NDDC boss highlighted the Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme of the commission, noting that 2,323 students in the region had so far benefited from it.
He said: “We have released the initial funds for beneficiaries of the 2024/2025 scholarship programme. In response to the rising costs of foreign education, we are considering offering local undergraduate scholarships.”
The NDDC boss assured that the era of not having data or evidence of projects and programmes was gone, adding the current Board and Management of the Commission had adopted strategies to showcase its activities.
The Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) has promised to undertake critical projects in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The commission also vowed to continue with its regular engagement with critical stakeholders in driving the development process in the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, spoke when a delegation of stakeholders from Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni paid him a visit at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
He said that NDDC would construct bridges and internal roads as well as engage in youth empowerment, cultural revival, and agricultural development schemes in the area.
Ogbuku said: “We all face the same challenges in the region and this means that we must all work together to address the challenges, regardless of our ethnic background. Challenges, such as underdevelopment and ecological problems, confront all of us.”
Ogbuku said that the commission was committed to the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region through continuous stakeholders’ engagements and equitable distribution of available resources.
He said it was important to enhance collaboration between state governments, the NDDC, and other critical stakeholders to drive development through the monitoring and execution of regional projects.
He recalled that the NDDC recently hosted the Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit in Port Harcourt, to articulate new strategies for driving the development of the Niger Delta region.
He added that the commission had previously hosted a two-day 2024 Budget of Reconstruction Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where the stakeholders resolved that the best option for facilitating regional development was for all concerned parties to work together as partners.
Ogbuku said that the people of the region must shift their focus from the acquired taste of crude oil exploration and exploitation to sustainable agricultural practices that had made the region prosperous for centuries.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation from the palace of the Oba of Ogbaland, Dr Nwachukwu Nnam Obuoha Obi 111, Dr Chris Ojobah, appealed to the NDDC to extend more development projects to their communities.
He said: “We would like to bring to your attention that the community of Ogba Egbema in Ndoni LGA, Rivers State is rich in natural resources and plays a vital role in contributing to the nation’s economy, with approximately 70 percent of the country’s crude oil and gas originating from our region.”
Ojobah acknowledged some of the development projects embarked upon by the NDDC in the area including the huge increase in the 2024 budget of the commission, which they said was a significant milestone in terms of both value and strategy.
He said: “The Paramount Ruler of Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA on behalf of the people of the communities, wish to express our sincere appreciation for the positive initiatives undertaken by your administration as the MD/CEO of NDDC.
“We commend the ‘Operation Light Up the Niger Delta Solar Initiative’ which has illuminated many communities in the Niger Delta region.”
In his remarks, the Representative of Rivers State on the NDDC Governing Board, Chief Tony Okocha, commended the delegation from the Oba of Ogbaland for choosing to consult, rather than confront the NDDC.
He noted that the people had demonstrated their commitment to peace as a prerequisite for development.
There is no doubt that the Niger Delta region is blessed with abundant natural resources. Apart from oil, the region is endowed with some of Nigeria’s most fertile land. Ironically, inhabitants of the region are not reaping the fruits of nature’s bounties as much as expected because of years of environmental degradation.
Before oil took centre-stage, more than 95 per cent of the people in the region were engaged in agriculture. Since Shell first struck oil in Oloibiri in 1956, unquantifiable oil spills have continued to pollute the water and soil while dangerous emissions from gas flares poison the air across the region, destroying the livelihoods of fishermen and farmers.
To make matters worse, the Nigerian nation has come to depend almost entirely on crude oil for economic survival. The result, of course, is inadequate investment in the agricultural sector.
To reverse this trend, the Federal Government and some of its agencies are now making conscious efforts to revive the agricultural sector to enable Nigeria produce enough food to feed its people, as well as supply raw materials to local industries and still have enough for export.
As part of this effort, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, introduced the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta, LIFE-ND in 2019.
The objective of the programme is to enhance income, food security and job creation for rural youth and women through sustainable Agri-enterprise development in the Niger Delta region.
The $90 million LIFE-ND programme, being financed jointly by IFAD, the Federal Government and the NDDC would promote projects that would essentially shift Niger Deltans away from subsistence farming into commercial and sustainable farming that can provide empowerment for them.
According to the National Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Dr Abiodun Sanni, the implementation period is structured is two phases of six years each. The project effectively kicked off in 2020. By conception, the first phase is to run from 2019 to 2025.
Four years down the line, he said that there are significant changes in the agricultural practices in the Niger Delta region worth celebrating, stating that “the programme is an eloquent testimony of Federal Government’s concern and determination to create massive impact in the Niger Delta.
Dr. Abiodun Sanni, said that the success recorded in the initial six states had set a high standard that would be replicated in the newly funded states of Akwa Ibom, Imo and Rivers.
He explained: “For the six states where LIFE-ND (Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo – IFAD funded) has already taken root, we have seen results that are nothing short of inspiring—10 Local Government Areas per state, 10 communities per LGA, each one a testament to the possibilities when we cultivate the right partnerships and persevere in the face of challenges.
A mid-term assessment of the LIFE-ND programme indicates that many stakeholders are satisfied that the project has impacted more than 50 per cent of its target beneficiaries and significantly reversing negative narratives about the Niger Delta.
To further add to the successes recorded so far, the NDDC and IFAD on September 13, 2024 launched the LIFE-ND Project for Akwa Ibom, Imo and Rivers states to join the six other states of the region already reaping the fruits of the programme.
At that occasion in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said that the Life-ND programme aligns with the efforts of President Tinubu’s administration, which recently declared a state of emergency on agriculture.
Ogbuku said: “This project is not just ploughing through the fields of agribusiness. It is breaking new ground, cultivating opportunities for wealth and stability. And as we launch this initiative, we are ushering in new possibilities. In the past, agribusiness seemed out of reach for many. But today, we bridge that gap, opening the doors to entrepreneurship, financial independence, and sustainable livelihoods.
According to him: “The NDDC proudly stands as a co-sponsor of this initiative, alongside the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with the steadfast support of IFAD.”
Ogbuku said that the LIFE-ND project would transform the lives of over 38,000 direct beneficiaries, but its multiplier effect will surely touch many more across the Niger Delta, stating: “We are reaffirming our commitment to ensuring that our youth and women not only participate in the economy but lead the charge building businesses that uplift their families, their communities, and their futures.”
He declared: “The partnership with IFAD is a strong vine, one that will continue to grow and bear fruit. With IFAD’s investment of US$60 million and NDDC’s contribution of US$30 million, we are fertilizing the ground for a brighter future.
He said that the essence of the programme was to enhance the income and livelihood of the youths of the Niger Delta, provide food security and create jobs on sustainable basis in the region.
The Minister of Finance, Mr. Olawale Edu, stated that LIFE-ND was a crucial part of Nigeria’s strategy to address unemployment, boost food security, and unlock the agricultural potential of the Niger Delta.
The Minister, who was represented by a director in his ministry, Mr. Steve Ohaeri, commended the NDDC for coming up with its counterpart fund for the Life-ND project, urging the Commission to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural programme.
He observed: “The project directly supports the Federal Government’s agricultural policy and the strategic framework for youth employment and job creation. The strategic framework addresses the large and growing number of unemployed youths, especially in the rural areas. It seeks inclusion of young people in profitable agribusiness.”
The Minister stressed that the focus on agriculture would help to diversify the resource base of the country and reduce the dependence on oil and gas in the Niger Delta, adding that the NDDC had always recognised agriculture as the way forward for Nigeria and the Niger Delta in particular.
Speaking in a similar vein, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who was represented by Dr Peter Kush, acknowledged the impact of the LIFE-ND project in raising agriculture-based enterprises and mentoring thousands of apprentices across the Niger Delta region.
He said that entrepreneurship development equips the unemployed with skills and tools needed to fight idleness, hunger, poverty, and economic hardship. The transfer of skills and knowledge requires institutional structures to validate such activities.
He said further: “The LIFE-ND programme is key in the Federal Government’s agricultural policy for the Niger Delta region and that makes it very important for the NDDC to participate actively because you cannot be talking about infrastructure alone when people are hungry.
In his speech, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, said that the life-ND project stood as a beacon of hope and progress for the youths, stating: “The LIFE-ND project is more than just an initiative; it is a concerted effort to address the challenges faced by our communities and to harness the opportunities for growth and development.
“Our partnership with IFAD has been instrumental in empowering our farmers and enhancing agricultural productivity. This partnership dates back to 2005 when NDDC supported an initiative of the Federal government with a matching fund with IFAD in the sum of USD15 million for the Community Based Natural Resource Management Programme – Niger Delta (CBNRMP-ND).”
Speaking on the journey so far, IFAD Country Director, Dede Ekoue, said: “At mid-term, the programme planned to reach 25,000 small holder entrepreneurs and farmers has already reached 14,155 and more.
She enthused: “LIFE-ND has been selected as one of the projects to share their experience at the level of West and Central Africa which means something innovative is happening here. One of the innovations is introducing Information Communication Technology, ICT for supporting rural farming for development.”
According to her, the collaboration with the NDDC on the project had been a huge success, noting: “I would like to reiterate that IFAD remains a steadfast partner in supporting the development of sustainable rural livelihoods in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria as a whole. We are confident that through continued collaboration and innovation, LIFE-ND will continue to empower rural communities and contribute to a more prosperous and food-secure future for all.
“We appreciate the dedication of NDDC to strengthening partnerships among all stakeholders to transform lives, create prosperity, and foster sustainable development for the people of the Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole. LIFE-ND stands as one of IFAD’s best-performing projects, and we are grateful to the NDDC for its efforts in fulfilling its financial obligations towards this initiative.
The IFAD Country Director expressed gratitude to the NDDC for the efficient disbursement of the initial contributions of the Commission to the LIFE-ND project. “We particularly commend the NDDC Managing Director for opening a new chapter of progress with this support,” she remarked.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has warned stakeholders against certain lists circulating in the social media, purportedly representing selected beneficiaries of the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme.
The commission in a statement signed on Tuesday by its Director, of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said the fraudsters spreading false information about the youth internship scheme were also demanding personal information and payment of an acceptance fee.
The statement said: “Please, note that the NDDC does not require any fees or payments for the placement of qualified youths in its internship programme.
“We wish to clarify that no such list has been collated, approved, or released and any claim to the contrary is false. Those who registered for the scheme should note that the process of selection is ongoing.
“The final list of beneficiaries will be drawn from the NDDC’s official database and only those that were duly registered between August 5, 2024, when the registration was formally launched and August 31, 2024, when it closed, will be considered.”
The commission advised members of the public, especially youths eagerly waiting for the completion of the selection process, to ignore any unauthorised list and seek information only from the NDDC official channels.
The statement said: “We assure all our stakeholders that we remain committed to transparency and fairness in all our activities, including our youth empowerment programmes.
“It is indeed disconcerting that some mischievous individuals are trying to take advantage of our youths who are seeking ways of being gainfully engaged in legitimate activities. In light of this unfortunate development, we urge our youths to be wary of these scammers.
“For inquiries about our empowerment programmes, please contact us directly through our official channels. We also encourage beneficiaries of our programmes to verify facts on the NDDC’s official website: [www.nddc.gov.ng] and social media handles.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) in conjunction with the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, is preparing an integrated master plan for the development of the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Davies Okarevu, confirmed the development during a two-day workshop on Harmonisation of the Niger Delta Regional Development Strategy for Directors of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development and NDDC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
He said that the document to be known as Niger Delta Regional Development Strategy (NDRDS) would improve on the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, the Ministry of Niger Delta Action Plan and the International Oil Companies, IOCs’ Regional plan in line with the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the development of the region.
Okarevu in a statement signed by the commission’s Director Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thomson-Wakama observed that the workshop would enable the participants to have a mastery of the different regional plans to be able to integrate them into one for the development of the region.
He noted that another workshop would be organised for different stakeholders, including commissioners of economic planning, IOCs, traditional and community leaders, among others, in order to come up with a sustainable development plan for the Niger Delta region.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore, represented by Mr. Paul Abia, emphasised the need for a harmonised Niger Delta Regional Development Master plan.
He said such a master plan was key to achieving the development of the region and urged participants and drivers of the policy to come together to ensure that a useful and sustainable document was produced for the region.
In his presentation, the lead consultant of the project, Dr Atei Beredugo, said that seven basic pillars were identified as tools that needed to be addressed to enhance the development of the Niger Delta region.
He said: “We have come to the realisation that the seven pillars which must jointly be looked into for the Niger Delta region to move forward must include finance, security, economy (infrastructure), agriculture, oil and gas, good governance and we are focusing on the pathway to put together a strategy that will enable us achieve a sustainable and growth quality, poverty and hunger reduction, and what have you in the region.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) in conjunction with the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, is preparing an integrated master plan for the development of the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Davies Okarevu, confirmed the development during a two-day workshop on Harmonisation of the Niger Delta Regional Development Strategy for Directors of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development and NDDC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
He said that the document to be known as Niger Delta Regional Development Strategy (NDRDS) would improve on the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, the Ministry of Niger Delta Action Plan and the International Oil Companies, IOCs’ Regional plan in line with the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the development of the region.
Okarevu in a statement signed by the commission’s Director Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thomson-Wakama observed that the workshop would enable the participants to have a mastery of the different regional plans to be able to integrate them into one for the development of the region.
He noted that another workshop would be organised for different stakeholders, including commissioners of economic planning, IOCs, traditional and community leaders, among others, in order to come up with a sustainable development plan for the Niger Delta region.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore, represented by Mr. Paul Abia, emphasised the need for a harmonised Niger Delta Regional Development Master plan.He said such master plan was key to achieving the development of the region and urged participants and drivers of the policy to come together to ensure that a useful and sustainable document was produced for the region.In his presentation, the lead consultant of the project, Dr Atei Beredugo, said that seven basic pillars were identified as tools that needed to be addressed to enhance the development of the Niger Delta region.
He said: “We have come to the realisation that the seven pillars which must jointly be looked into for the Niger Delta region to move forward must include finance, security, economy (infrastructure), agriculture, oil and gas, good governance and we are focusing on the pathway to put together a strategy that will enable us achieve a sustainable and growth quality, poverty and hunger reduction, and what have you in the region.”
The NDDC Director, Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Patrick Ekade, noted that the workshop was organised to bring together directors from the Ministry of Niger Delta Development and NDDC to understand their roles in the implementation of the Niger Delta Development Master plan.
He stated: “The essence of the two-day workshop is for the various directors that are going to implement the document to understand what they need to do towards the development of the region when the document is finally approved by Mr. President.”
One of the participants and the NDDC Acting Director, Abuja liaison office, Mrs. Mary Nwaeke, expressed optimism in the project, noting that it would bring about a new beginning and direction for the stakeholders and development partners in the Niger Delta region.
It equally welcomed the commission’s commitment to rapid and even developmental strides in the Niger Delta region under Ogbuku’s watch.
These development strides, the group stated, were evident in the numerous impactful projects and programmes implemented across the communities, while others are being planned.
Some of the outstanding projects which had been executed across board, MOSOP said, included canalisation, road projects, electrical projects, water projects, jetty, shore protection, sand filling, erosion control, transformer, solar powered electrification projects, among others.
President of MOSOP, Prince Nuyete Biira, said the group was particularly delighted by the provision of solar powered electricity in every nook and crannies of the Niger Delta region. According to him, lightening up the entire region has become more or less the most captivating achievement amongst the numerous remarkable steps taken by the commission in the bid to fulfill its mission ‘’to facilitate the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta.
“MOSOP has expressed passionate appreciation for the good works of a man who has strategically demonstrated his undiluted understanding that ‘’light is life’’, Biira said.
Wants Presidency, NASS to empower Commission to undertake environmental remediation
The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC SouthEast has commended the leadership of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), for its development strides since the inception of his leadership.
Arodiogbu stated this while fielding questions from journalists on the performance of the NDDC as well as his expectations from the creation of the South East Development Commission, SEDC.
The APC chieftain further described Ogbuku as a technocrat with a visionary approach to issues of development having initiated first class projects such as the “Light Up The Niger Delta” a number of groundbreaking road infrastructure projects spanning the nine states that make up the Niger Delta and a number of initiatives which would have turned the region around had they been implemented since its inception.
He also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Niger Delta and the National Assembly to ensure more funding for the commission which had shown that it could judiciously put the resources to work for the people of the region who were in dire need for the Ogbuku managerial magic to meet the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Bola Tinubu administration as well as to ensure that the commission engaged much more in environmental remediation which was a part of its mandate as slated in Section 7 subsection 1(H) of the Act Establishing the commission.
Arodiogbu cited examples such as the recent oil spills by a number of oil drilling companies such as Shell which impoverished millions of citizens; without such remediation.
“As National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC SouthEast, I must spare no effort in commending the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku owing to the commission’s development strides in the region.
For example the “Light Up the Niger Delta” has sought to light up communities in the area, asides such the NDDC has also carried out a number of electrification and infrastructural projects in the region connecting communities and giving a sense of meaning to these areas. Asides this I am very impressed with the number of human capital development initiatives which seek to liberate our youths from unemployment and poverty, preparing them to become masters of their own fate.
“It is to this end that I am calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the NDDC gets more funds not only to carry out more impressive projects which would impact positively on the region’s development, but to also enable the commission to carry out comprehensive environmental remediation in areas where oils spills had devastated the ecology of such areas as a result of these oil drilling multinationals such as Shell. Since such is in the core of the NDDC mandate in section 7, subsection 1(H) of the NDDC, Act, we need the commission to be empowered to tackle headlong such issues. I am also begging the National Assembly to please assist the commission in using legislative oversight to its benefit in this regard.”
