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Tag: Niger Delta Development Commission

  • NDDC disburses N30bn to contractors – Ekere

    Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere, on Tuesday said the commission had disbursed about N30 billion to its contractors.

    Ekere, who disclosed this at a meeting with members of NDDC Contractors’ Association in Port Harcourt, said the payment was made by the new Board since it took office in November.

    He said the board met over 8,000 projects scattered across the region with many abandoned with liability of about N1.3 trillion.

    According to him, the board has also directed that all interim payment certificates bearing below N20 million be processed for immediate payment.

    “We believe that process of documentation should be done right.

    “There was need for the commission to get its full funding as provided in the NDDC Act which would enable it carry out its mandate,” he said.

    Ekere said the board had already met with the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta with a view to ascertain the exact fund owed the commission.

    The NDDC boss said that challenges faced by the commission informed why the board used four months to work out its strategic road map for development, anchored on 4-R initiative.

    Ekere explained that the 4-R initiative aimed to restructure NDDC’s balance sheet; reform its governance protocols; restore the commission’s core mandate and reaffirm its commitment to doing what was right and proper.

    “Part of the reforms involves introduction of technology aimed to enhance service delivery system in the commission.

    “We are also reforming the governance systems in NDDC with focus to enshrining best international standard that would be difficult to reverse by successive boards after we leave.

    “Also, the board approached oil companies to involve them in our budgeting process to enable them make input; since they are working in host communities who have needs,” he said.

    Ekere said the commission had also set up a committee tasked with the responsibility to conduct investigative hearing on allegations of corruption on some of its staffers.

    He said the hearing which sought to promote transparency and probity in the commission was however delayed following security breaches at the hearing.

    The Managing Director said the committee had received several petitions and memorandum and assured that the committee was currently working tirelessly to resolve the matter.

    “I believe in constructive engagement, and as such, we are engaging with various stakeholders to confront challenges facing the Niger Delta,” he said.

    Mr Joe Adia, President of NDDC Contractors’ Association, said the association would continue to work with the board for the release of outstanding funds owed the commission.

    He urged the board to recognize the association as partner in progress and pointed out that the commission had a lot to learn if it worked closely with contractors.

  • NDDC, Ondo sign MoU for Akodo-Araromi/Ibeju-Leki roads

    NDDC, Ondo sign MoU for Akodo-Araromi/Ibeju-Leki roads

    The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Ondo state government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of the 50km Akodo-Araromi/Ibeju-Lekki roads to link Ondo and Lagos states.

    The MoU was signed on Wednesday afternoon at the Ondo State Government House, Alagbaka, Akure by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and NDDC Managing Director and Chairman, Mr Nsima Ekere and Victor Ndoma Egba respectively.

    Confirming the landmark agreement, Mr Ekere told The Nation, “We just signed an MOU on the construction of the 50km Akodo-Araromi/Ibeju Lekki road. NDDC and Ondo State are partners in this project.”

    Speaking in the same vein, Governor Akeredolu enthused that the event marked a major step towards “Ondo development”.

    The governor added that, “This route unlocks our state’s potential; our beautiful beaches, our free trade zones, cementing us as the hub of investment opportunities.”

    The road is expected to shorten the travel time from parts of Lagos state to some coastal communities in Ondo.

     

     

  • NDDC Projects: Warri monarch, Itsekiri protest ‘marginalisation’

    NDDC Projects: Warri monarch, Itsekiri protest ‘marginalisation’

    Itsekiri ethnic nationality in Delta State is poised for war with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, over alleged marginalization in the allocation of 375 projects for which tenders were invited last week Wednesday.

    Leaders of the ethnic group and the monarch, the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, are seething over their zero share of the 61 projects sited in Delta state and lack of budgetary allocation to ongoing projects in Itsekiri areas.

    The Nation reliably gathered that the Olu-in-Council, the highest decision making body of the ethnic group, will hold emergency meeting over the matter on Saturday, days after the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought met to review it.

    “This is the height of injustice we have suffered in the hands of the NDDC and the government since the inception of the commission. For you to neglect an important ethnic group that produces a sizeable portion of the wealth from the oil and gas industry speaks volume.

    “The Olu-in-Council, headed by Ogiame Ikenwoli, will meet on Saturday to deliberate and take a decision to make our displeasure known to the Federal Government,” a source privy to the meeting said.

    The member representing Warri Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, expressed displeasure at the allocation to his constituency and called for a mass action against NDDC.

    A post on his Facebook page, which he confirmed in a telephone chat with our reporter, stated: “I call on us (members of Warri Federal Constituency) to do more and if possible stage a huge protest against the management of NDDC.

    “Indicate your readiness to march on NDDC!!!” he urged.

    Mr. Amorighoye Mene, Secretary of the ILOT, confirmed to our reporter that the group was peeved by the development, stressing,“The current NDDC management is very unfair and biased against the Itsekiri nation.

    “It is also pertinent to add that there is serious underfunding of ongoing projects in Itsekiri areas. Contractors handling the Koko-Ogheye road and Ugborodo projects are being underfunded and not paid for certificates issued.”

    “This is very unfair to our people and the current management of NDDC is biased against the Itsekiri because it is difficult to justify how out of 375 and 61 in Delta, not a single project in Itsekiri area. No explanation is good enough.

    “We by this statement draw the attention of the world to the action of the NDDC. It has never been like this. We call on the FG to urge the NDDC to review the 2016, to include Itsekiri area”

     

  • NDDC redeploys 11 directors in major shake-up

    NDDC redeploys 11 directors in major shake-up

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has redeployed 11 directors to different offices and directorates to boost its performance in the development of the Niger Delta.

    The Managing Director of NDDC, Mr Nsima Ekere, said on Thursday in Port Harcourt that the decision to shake-up the NDDC was taken after the commission’s retreat in Port Harcourt.

    He said the affected directors were drawn from the commission’s offices in Abuja, Bayelsa, Imo, Ondo, Delta and Rivers states.

    The NDDC chief gave the names of the affected officers redeployed as: Dr Princewill Ekanim, who was redeployed to the office of the Managing Director as Director of Special Duties.

    Mr Effiong Ephraim moves from Special Duties to head Abuja Liaison office, while Mrs Rachael Odiri, formerly Head of Bayelsa State office now heads Abuja office.

    Also, Mr Wanoro Weli, a former Director in charge of Utility Infrastructure Development and Waterways would head Ondo State office, replacing Mr Emma Audu who becomes Director of Project Monitoring and Supervision.

    In similar vein, Mr Nosa Agbongiasede takes charge of Imo State office, while Godwin Jaja, formerly Director of Imo office would take charge of Human Resources Directorate.

    Mr Etim Eyoette was elevated to the position of Acting Director, Utility Infrastructure Development and Waterways (UIDW), while Mr Ndubuisi Ahiakwo was moved from UIDW in Delta to Project Monitoring and Supervision (Western Zone).

    Mr Uno Uno now heads Project Monitoring and Supervision (Eastern Zone) while Mr Felix Aomreore becomes Head, Project Monitoring and Supervision (Central Zone).

    Ekere said the redeployment would enable the commission to actualise reforms designed to restore the commission’s core mandate and improve the living conditions of residents in the Niger Delta.

    `We are taking actions to reform our operations for optimum performance; and part of the first step was to deploy officers to where they would offer better service.

    “It is important to offer the region and our people better service; improve the quality of our projects; and ensure that we pay for projects and programmes that we implement,” he said. (NAN)

  • 2017 budget funding: How to avoid borrowing – Timi Alaibe

    2017 budget funding: How to avoid borrowing – Timi Alaibe

    A former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Chief Timi Alaibe was Monday confident that if efforts are stepped up to restore relative peace, safety and security in the Niger Delta, the nation may not resort to huge external borrowing to fund the 2017 budget.

    He spoke in Abuja as a guest on Thisday Live, a breakfast programme on Arise Television, Chief Alaibe who was also the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, blamed the continuing restiveness in the Niger Delta on the glaring failure of successive Federal Government’s of Nigeria to follow through with the Niger Delta Master Plan that was commissioned by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration and executed by the NDDC while he served as the Commission’s Managing Director.

    His words: “There is really nothing new to be said about the situation in the Niger Delta. All that needs to be said and all that we need to do and where we need to do them are succinctly captured in the Niger Delta Master Plan. If you have massive infrastructure, if you have good roads and bridges to open up the Niger Delta you will not have the recurrence of incidences of militancy in the region.

    “After President Obasanjo left office, I had the opportunity of briefing President Yar’Adua severally on the Master Plan and parts of the briefing led to the Amnesty Proclamation and the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the Niger Delta under Yar’Adua but unfortunately Yar’Adua died and the processes were not followed through after his death.”

    The former NDDC boss said the Amnesty Programme derailed when the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan curiously stopped at the implementation of just one component of the Amnesty Programme.

    According to him, the amnesty Programme was modeled to focus on five main areas.

    Aliabe said that: What you refer to as the Amnesty Programme today was originally designed to have five broad areas of focus, namely the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) of ex-agitators who accepted the offer of Amnesty; there was the Infrastructure development component which was supposed to address the huge infrastructure deficit in the zone; there was the Environmental Remediation component, which was to address the much needed clean-up of communities that have for decades suffered pollution and other environmental challenges stemming from the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas; there was an aspect that was supposed to help work out ways communities can have stakes in oil and gas exploration and production and of course aspects of the original Amnesty Package offered communities the opportunity to gainfully participate in pipeline surveillance and protection. The opportunities were huge but the past administration implemented just the DDR component,” Alaibe posited.

    He however lauded the efforts of the current administration to prioritize the restoration of sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta.

    Extolling the present administration on the choice to maintain peace in the Niger Delta, he described the Acting President, Yemi Osibanjo’s consistent visits to the region as a step in the right direction.

    Aliabe said that: “We really may not have to resort to heavy external borrowing to fund the 2017 budget once the right steps are taken by the administration in the Niger Delta. It is in this light that I commend the on-going peace and fact-finding shuttle of the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to States and communities in the Niger Delta. It is a very good thing and it is an indication that this administration is keen on working with leaders of the region to implement the 16-point agenda for the Niger Delta submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari late last year.

    “The N7.2 trillion 2017 Federal Budget is currently being considered by the National Assembly. The budget is largely predicated on earnings from crude oil that is benchmarked by an OPEC quota of 2.2 Million Barrels Per Day. Energy experts however worry that this projection may be a far cry given that for most of 2016, Nigeria did not produce up to 2 million barrels per day due largely to restiveness in the Niger Delta. Like most leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Alaibe believes that the commencement of the implementation of the 16-point agenda submitted to President Buhari would mark a remarkable change of situation in the Niger Delta. “What is needed is sincerity of purpose and the peoples trust would be easily earned.”

  • Protesting Ondo youths seal off NDDC office

    Protesting Ondo youths seal off NDDC office

    Some protesting youths on Wednesday sealed off the office of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) at  ‎Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje local government area of Ondo State following the failure of the Federal government to appoint a representative from the state on the NDDC board.
    The youths, in their hundreds and ‎who are under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM) placed palm fonts at the entrance of the NDDC gate.
    They also carried various placards with different inscriptions such as: ‎”Ondo state has been marginalised in NDDC board”, “No Ondo State in NDDC board, no peace in the Niger Delta area”, “Mr President, We need our Representative in the NDDC board now,” “Youth neglection: Causes of Robbery, Insurgency‎” among others.
    The NDYM coordinator, Mr  Alaba Adetoye Agbejoye, while addressing reporters, said with a robust agenda of APC led federal government and clear cut vision of President Mohammadu Buhari, it’s is regrettable that people who suppose to be real drivers of change are now agents of doom, inflicting pain and hardship on the people. 
    Agbetoye lamented that NDDC that has been producing relief to the people has completely deviated from its original purpose of bringing development to the people. 
    He called on the Acting President to as a matter of urgency appoint an indigene of the oil producing area in the state to fill the vacuum of Ondo State representative in the board of NDDC in the interest of equity and fairness. 
    Agbetoye lamented that the state has always been treated as a non-member of Niger Delta areas.
    He added that the oil producing areas in the state had been in a total blackout for seven years without any intervention from the government.
    He stressed further that all the projects in the area had been abandoned and there was no new project in the area, 
    He said: “We cannot continue in all these travails, being enslaved as if we are not part of Niger Delta region.
    “We are aware of some money released for Christmas for us but nothing has been given to us in Ondo State and we are graduates without work.”
    He, therefore, threatened that the youth movement would fall back to violence and disruption of oil pipeline vandalism if Federal Government could not meet its demand within seven days.
    His words: “Worrisome is the great level of corruption, inequality and injustice going on at the head office in the Port Harcourt. The commission has now been characterised by an unholy coalition between contractors and NDDC staff to deprive the people of the region their rights. 
    “In Ondo State, 85 percent of the yearly budget are either uncompleted or abandoned.  For three years now, no meaningful programme for the youths of the area. 
    “The vacuum created by non-appointment of Ondo State representative in the board has widened the extent of marginalisation of Ondo State in the last 2 months by the new board. 
    “The situation of sitting at the top and sharing the money will no longer be tolerated.  We will not fold our hand while the marginalisation continues in Port Harcourt.”
    Reacting, the state Director of NDDC, Engineer Emmanuel Audu, who spoke with our correspondent on phone said,  the delayed projects were caused by underfunding.
    Audu said that NDDC was already building power terminal to be connected with Omotosho Power grid, saying the project was ongoing to ensure power supply to the area.
    He added that NDDC in the state did not receive any money for Christmas for the movement, noting that the commission’s aim was even development of the area.
  • NDDC nomination: Boroffice calls for calm in riverine communities

    NDDC nomination: Boroffice calls for calm in riverine communities

    The senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice has appealed for calm due to the palpable tension in the oil-producing communities in Ondo State over nominations for the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The Senator made this appeal on Friday in a statement issued in Abuja by his media aide,  Kayode Adeniyi.

    The APC Chieftain said: “I have received countless calls, text messages and electronic mails from concerned people of Ondo State, particularly our brothers and the sisters from the oil-producing communities in Ondo State on the issue of nominees for the Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    “Some of the people did raise petitions and expressed dissenting views while some threatened to embark on protests as regards the composition of nominees for the Board of NDDC.
    “However, the NDDC Act is clear with no iota of ambiguity on the requirements that must be fulfilled.

    “Therefore, I want to alert concerned and aggrieved citizens of Ondo State that the leadership of All Progressives Congress at the topmost level has intervened and taken up the issue.  Our people should be rest-assured that justice will be done on the issue.

    “Finally,  as members of one big political family, I appeal to concerned citizens to back out from any planned protest,  if any,  since the issue will be resolved soon.”

  • Buhari urged to give Semenitari time to restructure NDDC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to give more time to the acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs Ibim Semenitari, to reposition the commission for optimal performances.

    The plea was made by the founder of Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) and former Bayelsa state governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Moses Siloko Siasia,

    According to Siasia, Mrs. Semenitari is championing the restructuring of the commission to meet the yearning of Niger Delta in line with the agenda of the President Buhari-led administration.

    “I will appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to give Mrs. Semenitari more time to complete the restructuring of the commission so that it can contribute meaningfully to the development of the Niger Delta. She is dogged and committed, unbiased and incorruptible in the discharge of her responsibilities,” he said.

    Siasia, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mosilo Group, added that effort by the acting MD of the NDDC is beginning to show in the region by ensuring that projectes awarded by the previous administration are executed.

    “Since she assumed office, there has been a turnaround in the activities of NDDC. She is employing the standardized project management process in the execution of projects. This is in line with President Buhari mantra of change,” he noted.

    Observing that some politicians from Akwa Ibom are already jostling for the post, Siasia urged President Buhari to be mindful of them, stressing that history has shown that the best days of the commission are when technocrats and not career politicians head its affair.

    “Records are there to show that the commission performs well when professionals are engaged to head it, rather than the career politicians. I am sure if the president gives her more time, she will turn the place around and whenever, the president deems it fit to appoint someone from Akwa Ibom, he can look within the commission rather than these career politicians lobbying for the post,” he submitted.

  • Semenitari reassures Niger Delta communities on projects’ delivery

    The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, has reassured the people of the Niger Delta, especially those of Opobo, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State of the execution of more projects and programmes in the region.

    She gave the assurance on Friday, when members of the Vanguard of Opobo Nation visited her at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.

    Mrs. Semenitari, a CNN award-winning journalist, stated that the Federal Government’s interventionist agency recognised the need to bring governance closer to the grassroots, where most of the challenges of development exist.

    She said: “The commission is paying special attention to developing communities in the Niger Delta to ensure that the people enjoy the benefits of the oil that is produced in their land.”

    NDDC’s acting managing director also stated that the commission had continued to intervene in the areas of health, education, social services and skills’ acquisition, among others.

    In continuation of the developmental efforts, she assured leaders of the Opobo community that urgent attention would be paid to upgrading their health centre.

    Mrs. Semenitari, who is a former Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, expressed regret that the Opobo health centre had been a sore point for many years.

    She said: “The NDDC’s Directorate of Education, Health and Social Services will assess the situation of the Opobo health centre to see how we can help. Fortunately, this is not a new health centre, because part of what we have said to ourselves is that we are not going to keep building new health centres that do not have personnel. But existing health centres that need renovation and rehabilitation will be upgraded.”