The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NDDC

  • NDDC, workers sign service pact

    NDDC, workers sign service pact

    THE management and workers of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have signed a negotiated “Staff Terms and Conditions of Service.”

    The signing ceremony, which was performed at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, was witnessed by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, as well as officials of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPTRE).

    The NDDC Managing Director, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, said the new condition of service was meant to encourage the workers to be dedicated to their duties and spur them to continue to be productive.

    The managing director underlined the importance of a motivated workforce in the attainment of the mandate of the interventionist agency.

    He recalled that in his maiden meeting with the workers last year, he announced the commitment of the board and management to prioritise welfare because human capital management was the single most important resource among other factors of service delivery.

    Dan-Abia emphasised that the mandate of the commission could not be realised without a dynamic, virile and productive workforce, hence its resolve to lay emphasis on human capital development.

    He noted that the new negotiated workers’ terms and conditions of service was an improvement on what existed in the commission before now.

    The NDDC Executive Director Finance and Administration, Dr. Henry Ogiri, explained that the conditions of service covered every aspect of workers’ welfare, including the correct placement of workers at all levels.

    He said that the management and the workers’ union were meticulous in drafting the document, stating that it was important that both sides respected the terms of the agreement.

    The Zonal Director of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mrs. Omuavie Udeme-Akpan, praised the NDDC for inviting the ministry to witness the signing ceremony, as the clearing house for all labour matters.

    She observed that the NDDC had proved over time to be a peaceful place of work, advising that should any labour-related issues arise in the future, the ministry should be consulted to assist in resolving such issues.

    In his own remarks, the National Vice President of AUPTRE, Comrade Evans Olumo, said he was delighted that the current management of the NDDC had fulfilled its promise to improve on the service delivery of the commission.

    He described the negotiated conditions as a budget for the welfare of workers.

     

    The Chairman of the NDDC Senior Staff Association, Mr. Oyiokro Omukoro, added that the workers had waited patiently for the agreement to take effect, adding that their prayer was for the document to be implemented to the letter.

     

     

     

  •  Tales from NDDC’s foreign scholars

     Tales from NDDC’s foreign scholars

    The Niger Delta Development Commission’s decision to build qualitative capacity through its yearly overseas post-graduate scholarship programme for indigenes of the region is one of the best things to happen to the oil-bearing areas. This is even more so because, after all, the human resource is more important than physical infrastructure.” That was the opinion of Mr. Lenin Francis, one of the 210 beneficiaries of the 2014 Post-Graduate Foreign Scholarship programme sponsored by the NDDC.

    Francis, who is from Bayelsa State and has enrolled for a Masters’ degree in petroleum engineering in the University of Salford, England, sees the programme as a capacity builder that will equip the youths to join in developing the Niger Delta. “I pray that the NDDC will continue with this laudable programme which has helped many youths in the region. The commission should also extend the scholarship to other students at the undergraduate level as well, in order to increase the number of beneficiaries.”

    He said the foreign scholarship was a boost not just for the beneficiaries but for the entire Niger Delta, because it would give the youths the opportunity to develop themselves and acquire technical expertise for the benefit of the people of the region.

    Mr. Stevyn Akosubo, another beneficiary who is heading to Coventry University in the United Kingdom, said the NDDC had given them an opportunity to widen their horizon and open their eyes to international best practices. “It is going to enhance the knowledge I have acquired here in Nigeria. It is a great opportunity for me to meet and interact with other students from different parts of the world. We owe our country and the Niger Delta, in particular, a duty to succeed,” he said.

    He further said that the scholarship scheme, which was given to 210 graduates in this batch from the nine Niger Delta states, needs to be increased.  ”It is clearly insufficient for the teeming youths of the region. Currently, the scholarship scheme is enjoyed by less than 15 per cent of qualified applicants, with some states getting only 10 slots. Surely, the NDDC can improve on this number,” he said.

    Giving her own perspective, Miss Amaka Uchendu, who is heading to the University of Essex in the UK, said that the youths often find it difficult to start their lives after their first degrees. “With this scholarship programme, it will be easier for us to go for the opportunities which we may not otherwise have been able to pursue on account of not having money. So, the NDDC has helped us to kick start our lives and we say a big thank you to the commission for giving us the opportunity to move forward and make our lives better.”

    The young graduates who are all set to jet out of the country for their post-graduate studies were all gathered at the Landmark Hotel, Port Harcourt to collect their scholarship award letters. The successful graduates from the 9 states in the Niger Delta were also given pre-departure briefings and put through a formal orientation.

    In his address to the NDDC scholars, the Managing Director of the commission, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, charged them to be good ambassadors of Nigeria in the foreign universities by applying themselves studiously to their academic programmes, so as to excel in their chosen fields of study.

    The NDDC Managing Director, who was represented by Barr. Sunday Obiofiong, his Special Adviser on Administration and Human Resources, assured the scholars that funds for their school fees and accommodation would not be delayed for any reason. He told them that previous beneficiaries of the scholarship programme set enviable standards for them to emulate. “Those before you did not disappoint us and we trust that you too will make us proud by your conduct and academic achievements,” he said.

    He said that the commission would continue to sponsor Niger Delta students to universities across the globe, and in return expect worthy response and commitment as an appreciation of the fact that the monies expended on them belonged to the people.

    The NDDC Director for Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. Solomon Ita, explained that the Foreign Post- Graduate Scholarship Scheme, which was started 4 years ago, was meant to equip Niger Delta youths with relevant training and skills for effective participation in the local content programme of the Federal Government.

    He said that since the inception of the scheme, the NDDC had trained 811 graduates at post-graduate level, noting that the commission had consistently sponsored 200 students yearly to foreign universities to acquire Master’s and Doctorate degrees in science disciplines. This year, he said, the number was increased to 210. He explained that emphasis was placed on science disciplines because of a noticeable deficiency in this area in the oil industry, which made it difficult to employ young graduates from the region in that critical sector. “You know we have a lot of gaps in our oil and gas sector, and that is what we desire in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large”.

    According to him, there was need to position young graduates from the region to compete globally in various professional fields, noting that before now, the oil and gas industry had discriminated against the fresh graduates whom they dismissed as not possessing requisite qualifications. ”We also need to encourage our youths to show interest in engineering for the sake of our projects. We need qualified engineers that can manage our projects just as in agriculture, environmental science and other science related courses,” the director said.

    Dr. Ita stressed that the foreign scholarship scheme was designed to expose the graduates to other developed environment outside the country. “It is our belief that the skills they acquire will add value to the development of the Niger Delta. So far, we have been proved right as those that benefited from the programme in the previous years have justified the need for the advanced training programme,” he said.

    He recalled the outstanding performance of one of the beneficiaries who studied in the United Kingdom in 2012. The star NDDC scholar of that year, Miss Francisca Chiedu, was elected as President of the United Kingdom University Student Union. That feat, he said, demonstrated that Nigerian youths could lead innovative changes within and outside the country. “Her success was indeed a victory for the NDDC. It is a testimony of the capability of the new generation of Nigerian to effect the change they seek and champion worthy causes they desire.”

    The NDDC director said he was optimistic that the process adopted in selecting beneficiaries of the foreign scholarship scheme would continue to produce first class performers. “it will guarantee the Niger Delta region and Nigeria at large, the likes of Francisca Chiedu, the Information Engineering and Network Management student in the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, who brought glory to NDDC, the region and nation.”

    Miss Chiedu, a University of Benin Computer Science graduate, showed appreciation for what the NDDC did for her. She wrote back to the commission to say that “truly life presents us with different opportunities. For me, every moment in our life offered a door, all I had to do was choose, I chose to dream, I chose to think, I choose to move, I chose to act and I chose to win.”

    Other potential winners have been lining up to be raised by the NDDC. It was not surprising, therefore, that 4, 000 graduates applied for this year’s post-graduate foreign scholarship programme. The successful ones were selected through a transparent electronic examination conducted at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt. Mr. Asawo Ibituro, a consultant for the electronic test, said that e- exams promote transparency. “There is no room for anybody to change your grade since your picture and details are in the system, after writing the examination your score is reflected immediately”.

    The interview process for this year’s foreign postgraduate scholarship was concluded in April and the students were supposed to have reported at their universities in September. However, there were some delays which were attributed to the budgetary process of the Federal Government.

    One of the candidates who participated in the final interview, Mr. Peter Keshi, said: “Following the transparent and swift manner in which the tests and interview process was conducted, we expected quite a lot. This year’s qualifying exams for the scholarship programme were rounded up on the 5th of April, we were invited for interviews shortly in that same month and the interview process was equally done on the 24th of April. One would have expected that all successful candidates would by this time be in their various universities across the world.”

    Keshi didn’t have to wait for too long as the NDDC had finalised all arrangements to facilitate the movement of the graduates to their various universities for their post-graduate studies. The beneficiaries who attended the orientation/pre-departure briefing were visibly anxious to get moving. As they were being briefed by Mr. Umanaette Udoh, an NDDC consultant, the UK-bound graduates were impatient, listening to how to get around London. One of them asked: “Who wants to learn how to use the sub-way? Some of us have been living in London for many years now.”

  • NDDC’s good music for youths

    NDDC’s good music for youths

    it is my belief that when we develop and empower young people, we are bound to reduce crime and violence in the Niger Delta region. We also check kidnappings and vandalism of public infrastructure, especially oil installations, which are negatively affecting our economy today.” That succinctly summarises the position of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, as espoused by its Managing Director, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, at the 1st Niger Delta Regional Youth Conference on Ethics and Value Re-Orientation, held at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt.

    At that crucial conference, the NDDC articulated a 3-point agenda of capacity building, wealth creation and employment generation for the youths of the Niger Delta region. The action plan was the interventionist agencies’ affirmation that the youths of the region hold the key to the peaceful development of the future.

    According to the Managing Director, the 3-point agenda for youths was significantly focused on deepening youth development and empowerment through re-orientation; rehabilitation and re-integration, to enable them contribute positively to the growth of the region.

    Sir Dan-Abia said that the new action plan was a timely prescription to addressing the myriads of challenges faced by youths of the region with a view to creating a peaceful, secured and prosperous Niger Delta for all. “We are of the view that sustainable youth development and empowerment that will unlock the potentials of young people is a must do,” he said.

    The NDDC boss stated that the youth conference was aimed at deepening development in the region with emphasis on raising world-class youths with the requisite skill and inventiveness to meet contemporary challenges in the oil-rich region.

    He said that it was only through moral rejuvenation and ethical re-orientation that we could achieve sustainable youth development and empowerment, noting that the philosophy of the conference was hinged on the bed-rock of a deep concern and the need for total re-orientation of youths of the region.

    The Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, spoke along the same line, noting that the commission was putting a lot of emphasis on taking care of the youths of the Niger Delta. He observed that the youth conference was part of the new thrust of the NDDC to enhance its service delivery.

    Senator Ewa-Henshaw assured the youths that the commission would partner with them for appropriate training and mentorship, stating that the commission was determined to transform the Niger Delta in line with the development agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    The NDDC Director of Youths, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs, Prince W. Alazigha, said that the importance of youths in any society could not be over-emphasized, adding that they bear the brunt of most societal inadequacies. On account of this fact, he said that the NDDC had since inception mounted various skill acquisition programmes to train the youths of the Niger Delta.

    The views of the captains of the NDDC show that they understand that youths represent the collective dreams of a stable and prosperous society where commerce and industry thrive, and people develop their fullest potentials in peace and security.

    It is not surprising, therefore, that the  key aspect of NDDC youth development scheme appear to focus on enabling the youths to gain useful skills with which they could be gainfully employed. The fruits of this strategy are beginning to manifest as statistics made available by the commission indicate that a total of 5,765 youths across the Niger Delta Region have so far benefited from various skill programmes of the commission.

    To further improve the lot of the youths, the NDDC recently announced plans to engage 450 Niger Delta youths as part of its youth empowerment programmes. The new initiative involves the selection of 50 young men and women from each of the nine states of the Niger Delta region to carry-out periodic environmental sanitary services, traffic decongestion and control, clearing of grasses and weeds on the sides of major roads, cleaning and opening up of blocked drainages, security surveillance on oil/gas facilities and installations (pipelines) and other related matters under a special scheme.

    The empowerment programme, meant to reduce unemployment in the region, has been aptly tagged as the Niger Delta Volunteer Scheme. Throwing more light on the programme, Barr.George Turnah, the Special Adviser to the NDDC MD on Youth, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs, said that the first phase would focus on engaging the skills of the youth in environmental sanitation, while the second phase would emphasize collaboration and cooperation between the commission and its development partners with a view to increasing the number of youths under the scheme.

    He said that the final phase of the scheme would ensure that the young people were given opportunities to be employed in highly skilled jobs to enable the programme contribute to the economy of the region in terms of wealth creation and employment generation.

    Turnah, noted that NDDC would continue to intervene in the provision of employment to the youths of the Niger Delta. “It is the hope of the NDDC that the volunteer scheme will provide multiple benefits for young people in the region where employment options are otherwise limited. The 450 Niger Delta youths participating in the scheme will earn a monthly stipend as a form of support to enable them give their best to community development in the region and in particular for their productivity.”

    As would be expected, the youths were very excited by the new programme. The Chairman, Niger Delta Youth Leaders Council, Mr. Ebis Orube, said the new initiative by NDDC to help the unemployed youths in the Niger Delta was a laudable programme that would go a long way in reducing social vices associated with youths as a result of idleness.

    He said: “I just hope it will accommodate as many youths as possible and at the same time become a sustainable programme. So, I advise that they involve those that are really in need of jobs in order for them to have a means of livelihood and not give out the opportunities based on political considerations.”

    Mr. Joseph Nwabuakwu, a youth leader from Aniocha North Local Government Area in Delta State, was one of the many others that hailed the programme. He said he was optimistic that a better Niger Delta was in the offing, noting that the current efforts of the NDDC to turn the tide for the region were encouraging. “We can hope for a greater future for the Niger Delta, because the NDDC is transforming this region and in no distant time we shall see a greater Niger Delta region. The inclusion of the young people in its development plans also means it is going to be sustainable,” Nwabuakwu said.

    He added: “We have not yet gotten to where we should be, but it doesn’t mean we are still curled up where we used to be. The tough situation we experience in the region can be conquered when all hands are on deck. It involves the coming together of government, major stakeholders and the youths as well. The youths will take the mantle some day. So, whatever issues or programmes we have should have their interest at heart.”

    For the former National President, Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM), Mr. Godspower Odenema, the programme was a welcome initiative as it had the potential of not only meaningfully engaging the Niger Delta’s jobless youths, but also giving impetus to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

    According to Odenema, “I am happy that the NDDC is making efforts to transform the Niger Delta into an economically prosperous, socially stable and politically peaceful region with this programme. The Niger Delta Volunteer service scheme will surely resolve many knotty problems inherent in the region.”

    The NDDC, he said, did very well by starting a programme that would take many youths off the streets. He further said that it would reduce the problem of youth restiveness in the region and promote stability and peace.

    Before the introduction of the Volunteer Service Scheme, the NDDC had intervened in several rural communities, where many less-privileged people were empowered through skill acquisition programmes. In some of these communities in Cross River State, the beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes were full of praises for the interventionist agency.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Christiana Eyamba, from Obanliku Local Government Area of the state, said the cassava grinding machine she received through the programme would boost her garri production. She said she had since longed for a grinding machine to enable her to process more cassava and produce garri in commercial quantity. “I needed it, because we plant plenty of cassava in our area; with this machine I can now employ people to help me to grind.

    Eyamba said that the skill acquisition programme and the starter packs given to them would go a long way in assisting the beneficiaries, because it would enable them to make more money and train their children in school. “We are going to produce garri in large quantity and we will sell to people from far and near; it will yield more money to us and the community,” she enthused.

    Another beneficiary, Mrs. Roseline Adie, from Ikom, said the programme which was organised by the NDDC with the aim of fighting poverty at the grassroots, was a good and progressive effort. She noted that the sewing machine she got from the commission would assist her to expand her business and take care of her family.

  • NDDC scholarship: What’s going on?

    SIR: I wish to draw the attention of the authorities to the way the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is toying with the future of youths they are supposed to be committed to building.

    Early this year calls were made by the commission for entries for the Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme. Exams were held in March in which not less than 4000 youths travelled from all parts of the country even overseas to write.

    Follow-up interviews were conducted and rounded up by April 24, which had no less than 1500 candidates. The successful scholars ought to have departed for studies in September, but as I write, NDDC has not released the final results of this scheme. Not even an official statement on the delay has been issued. Most prospective scholars have lost their admissions that took quite a lot to obtain, not to talk of risks taken travelling from one end of the country to the other to participate in tests and interviews.

    Please, we want to know what is happening to the final list; has the monies allocated for this year’s scholarship been converted for electioneering campaigns?

    Is this the way NDDC is fulfilling their mandate to the youths of the region?

    NDDC is failing its own youths!

     

    • Oluwaraji Rasaki,

    raji_saki@yahoo.com

  • NDDC heals as Ebola spreads tentacles

    NDDC heals as Ebola spreads tentacles

    Ebola is not here and we pray that it will never get here.” That prayer shared with an apprehensive crowd of villagers from fishing communitieswas met with a thunderous shout of Amen! Sensing the subdued trepidation over the scary stories of the Ebola virus disease, Professor AdelayoEjele, who led a team of health workers on a free health mission to Asarama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, felt it was important to reassure the people of their safety.

    He was speaking at the flag off of the free medical programme organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC,in conjunction with Golspin Health Care Foundation at Asarama Health Centre. It was a rare privilege for rural dwellers in and around Andoni to take their sick ones to a health facility for proper medical care at no financial cost to them. So, for seven daysthey gathered in thousands at Asarama, not minding the threat of Ebola.

    The medical team that participated in the programme also made a lot of sacrifices as they had to work with very limited facilities. Prof Ejele, the Chief Medical Consultant and coordinator of the programme, attested to the dogged spirit of the health workers. He particularlycommended the doctors who volunteered their services at a time most doctors were keeping away from government hospitals.

    Prof Ejele said the Asarama community and their neighbours should be grateful to the NDDC for bringing free health care to their door-steps, noting that good health surpassed all other needs. “The common saying is that health is wealth. But for us in this health mission, health is better than wealth,” he said.

    According to the Chief Medical Consultant, 1,479 cases were treated, including 21 surgeries, 108 dental cases and 365 laboratory investigations. He also said 156 patients were screened for HIV/AIDS and only 2 persons were found to be positive. “Fortunately, Ebola is not here yet. But we should all be on the alert to keep it away,” he said.

    For the Managing Director of NDDC, Sir Bassey Dan-Abia, the free health programme was a free gift from President Goodluck Jonathan to the rural communities in the Niger Delta. He said apart from bringing good health to the people, the interventionist agency was determined to change the face of the communities with development projects.

    The NDDC boss, who was represented byChief Ephraim Etete-Owoh, the Rivers State representative on the board of the commission, said that no less than 900,000 people have benefited from its free medical services since the programme started 14 years ago. He stated that the commission was determined to make a difference in the health sector in collaboration with relevant partners such asGoldspin Healthcare andGlobal Hand Medicare Foundation.

    Speaking on behalf of the Asarama community, Chief AppolusEwaye, noted that the health programme came at a time many people in the villages were finding it difficult to access healthcare facilities.”We deeply appreciate this programme,” he said.

    Appreciation for the free health programme cannot come any better than the one from Mrs.BesseyMicha from Egendem community in Andoni LGA. The middle-aged woman, whose child was operated on for hernia, simply said in pigeon English, “make God bless NDDC for us Oh!”

    The popular free health programme, which had been taken to many communities in the Niger Delta, also berthed in some isolated fishing settlements of Ondo State. Given the enormous logistic challenges in these communities that are surrounded by water, the health mission was like God-sent for the people.

    Pro-Health International, which coordinated the programme for the NDDC in the state, went to great lengths to reach the people. In one instance, the programmewas held in a local church because there was no health facility anywhere near the settlement.

    The leader of the medical team, Dr. Levanus Martins, said thatabout 6,000 people benefited from the free medical services in the state, with many coming fromIgbobini, Igo and neigbouring communities.He said that other areas that benefitted were Ese- Odo local government area; Odun-Igo, Ilaje local government area, and Ajowa- Akoko, Akoko northwest local government area.

    According to him, 376 people did various laboratory tests, major surgery was conducted for six persons, 770 out-patients, 678 passed through pharmaceutical section and 41 were treated for dental ailments.

    Reviewing the success of the programme, the representative of Ondo State on the board of the NDDC, Chief Benson Amuwa, said thatseveral operations were performed in an environment where people could not have access to basic healthcare. “The aim of the NDDC is to ensure that people of the Niger Delta can access basic healthcare at their doorsteps. We know most of them cannot afford the kind of health care which normally they should get.”

    The Olu of Igbobini, Oba Oyedele Raphael, represented by Chief OlasehindeAjele, commended NDDC for remembering his people. He said: “We appreciate what you are doing for us; it is very great. We thank you very much.”The traditional rule said it was the first time any government agency was carrying out this kind of free medical programme in their area.

    In AkwaIbom State, the intervention of the free health programme was truly providential as exemplified by the story of Mrs. IniobongFidelix, who hails from Ikono Local Government Area of the state. Were it not for the free health mission in her locality, the pregnant woman would have died with her baby.

    Iniobong’s pregnancy was at its turbulent peak and she was taken to the hospital in Ikono. Unfortunately, there was no doctor at the hospital at that time to attend to her. The nurses could not do much as Iniobong was having complications and needed to be operated upon. The saving grace for this poor woman and her unborn baby was the Free Health Care Medical Programmeorganized by the NDDC, in conjunction with Global Hands Medicare Foundation, at the Ekpene Obo Cottage Hospital in EsitEket Local Government Area.

    It was a happy and proud Dr. Katherine Ntekim, the director of the foundation running the NDDC-sponsored free medical programme that told the story of the Ikono woman who was saved at the nick of time. According to her, Iniobong was lucky to have been rushed to the venue of the medical intervention in time to save her live and that of her baby. “She was rushed in for an emergency caesarian section from a general hospital where doctors’ strike had paralyzed healthcare delivery to this place where we saved her and her new-born baby.”

    She gave kudos to the NDDC for making it possible for her organisation to assemble medical experts in different areas of specialization to attend to the needs of people who may not have had access to such highly qualified medical personnel. According to the medical director, the week-long programme covered different aspects of Medicare.

    The NDDC Deputy Director for Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. Solomon Ita, said that the goal of the commission was to make medical services accessible to the people of the Niger Delta region, especially those who live in the rural areas.  He noted that the commission had always placed a high premium on healthcare delivery, adding that it had extended health facilities and services to many communities across the region.

    “It is our belief that after this programme, the people of EsitEket will say farewell to all the endemic health problems that have long plagued them. It is expedient to mention here that the health partners are expected to hand over substantial quantities of efficacious drugs to the hospital management for the treatment of those who had some major operations,” he said.

    According to Dr Ita, of all the development programmes which the NDDC had undertaken in the Niger Delta, the one that brought tremendous relief and made immediate impact on the lives of the rural people was the free health care programme. “The free health missions have gone round virtually all corners of the Niger Delta, healing the sick and giving hope to the medically challenged,” he said.

    The NDDC director explained that the free health care programme was a combination of many activities, which included carrying out of HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, healthcare promotion and malaria roll-back campaign. “The comprehensive health missions provide all forms of medical services, ranging from general consultation, laboratory services, general and gynaecological surgeries, as well as eye and dental services. Apart from the free medical missions, the NDDC has committed substantial resources to providing physical infrastructure in the health sector across the Niger Delta,” he said.

    Mr. Anieffiok Gabriel, who brought a relative for treatment, said he was delighted that the free healthcare programme came to Ekpene Obo at a time he was almost giving up hope on how to save his aunty who was very sick but could not find money to go for medical treatment. “We are glad the NDDC has come to our rescue,” he said.

    Anieffiok is one out of many poor people in the remote communities of the Niger Delta who have been rescued through the intervention of the NDDC’s free medical missions.

     

  • Ex-acting NDDC chief opposes zoning in Delta

    Ex-acting NDDC chief opposes zoning in Delta

    Former Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Pastor Power Aginighan, has said zoning will not determine who becomes Delta State’s next governor.

    He spoke at a news conference in Warri.

    Aginighan urged Nigerians to take their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) serious, describing it as the key to the enthronement of faithful and committed governance.

    Aginighan, who advised those who would be contesting elective positions in the state, especially the governorship, to play by the rule, also warned that those who have plans to enter any of the races for purposes of acquiring wealth overnight should forget the idea as the people of Delta would only vote for those they know have genuine passion for developing the state.

    He said: “On the 2015 governorship elections in Delta State, it is my position and indeed the position of many well-meaning Deltans that those who see politics as a means of building vast economic empires for themselves should forget about the race. Those who rely on a non-existent and unconstitutional zoning formula and expect the governorship conceded to either their ethnic group or senatorial district on a platter of gold  should have a rethink.

    “Only the candidate who offers the convincing promise of ensuring that the common wealth of Delta State will be reflected in the quality of life all of Deltans, irrespective of political party affiliation, ethnic background and religion, will earn the votes of the people. Deltans are all called upon to carefully examine the track records of all the aspirants in either the public service or the private sector and ensure that we do not enthrone a tyrant and a treasury looter as our governor in 2015.”

  • NDDC’s medical mission ends

    NDDC’s medical mission ends

    The seven-day free medical mission of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State ended at the weekend.

    Doctors defied their strike and joined the programme organised by NDDC in conjunction with Golspin Health Care Foundation at Asarama Health Centre.

    NDDC’s Head of Corporate Services Ibitoye Abosede and leader of the medical team Prof. Adelayo Ejele hailed doctors who volunteered their services, adding: “The common saying is that health is wealth, but for us in this health mission, health is better than wealth.”

    Ejele said 1,479 cases were treated, including 21 surgeries, 108 dental cases and 365 laboratory investigations. He said 156 patients were screened for HIV/AIDS and two tested positive.

    “Fortunately, Ebola is not here yet and we pray it nevers get here,” he added.

    NDDC’s chief executive officer, who was represented by Chief Ephraim Etete-Owoh, Rivers State representative on the commission’s Governing Board, said the agency was determined to improve the communities.

    He urged the people to always cooperate with contractors to ensure prompt completion of projects.

    Speaking for Asarama community, Chief Appolus Ewaye thanked NDDC and the doctors for the programme.

    The free health mission has been taken to several communities in the nine states of the Niger Delta in the last one month.

  • ‘NDDC’ll touch more lives’

    ‘NDDC’ll touch more lives’

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will touch more lives as its funding improves, Ondo State’s representative on the commission’s Governing Board Mr. Benson Amuwa has said.

    Amuwa spoke at the opening of free medical programmes in Igbobini, Ese-Odo Local Government Area and Igo, Ilaje Local Government Area.

    The programme was organised in collaboration with the Universal Medical Foundation and Pro-Health International.

    Amuwa urged the people to cooperate with the medical teams and urged the

    Federal Government to release funds to the NDDC, so that it can achieve its mandate.

    The Olu of Igbobini, Oba Oyedele Raphael, represented by Chief Olasehinde Ajele, thanked the NDDC for the mission.

     

  • Ondo riverine residents to benefit from NDDC health scheme

    Ondo riverine residents to benefit from NDDC health scheme

    About 5,000 people in the riverine area of Ondo State are to benefit from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) free health programme.

    The state’s representative on the Governing Board of NDDC, Mr Amuwa Benson, spoke with  reporters in Akure, the state capital, at the weekend.

    He said the programme would kick-off before the end of this month. Amuwa said Igbekebo and Zion-Pepe have been chosen as centres for the programme.  He said the exercise was part of the commission’s responsibility to the oil-producing communities.

    Amuwa said: “It is responsibility of the commission to bring qualitative health services to the doorstep of the people in the mandate area and that is why the commission has chosen Igbekebo and Zion-Pepe as meeting points for the programme. Our target covers those with minor and severe ailments because health is wealth”.

  • 89 benefit from NDDC’s medical aid

    89 benefit from NDDC’s medical aid

    The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Bassey Dan-Abia, said the agency has begun consolidation phase of the Niger Delta master plan.

    He said 89 patients have benefited from the foreign medical aids on life-threatening ailments.

    The NDDC boss spoke at the weekend in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, when some youths visited him.

    He said the master plan is a strategic aim to create an interface with the industry for effective engagement of youths and women in the region.

    Dan-Abia noted that the agency’s budget would address the goals of the consolidation phase of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan.

    Dan-Abia said: “The commission has introduced some human capital development programmes that would have great impact in the region in the years ahead.

    “Some of the programmes include the entrepreneurship development and empowerment programme, NDDC post-graduate scholarship scheme, women training etc.

    “The commission has built and repaired specialist hospitals and cardiovascular hospitals.

    “Eighty nine patients have benefitted from our foreign medical aids on life-threatening ailments and 5,000 from our free medical service programme.”