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Tag: Nsima Ekere

  • Campaign billboards: APC set to confront A’Ibom govt over planned protest

    The fracas between the Akwa Ibom state government and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the alleged destruction of APC campaign billboards took a different dimension on Saturday.

    The APC in the state had risen against the People’s Democratic Party-controlled state government for pulling down campaign billboards of President Muhammadu Buhari and its governorship candidate, Obong(Dr.) Nsima Ekere.

    The state commissioner for environment and mineral resources, Dr. Iniobong Essien and the chairman of Uyo local government area, Mr. Okon Okon were last week arrested and detained by the police following a petition by the APC that its campaign billboards were destroyed by agents of the state government.

    At a press conference on Friday, the State Chairman of the APC National Youth Caucus, Mr. Iniobong John raised the alarm that the state government was planning to organize women in the state to stage a protest against the APC government at the center.

    The APC youth leader said the protest, planned to hold in major streets of the state capital on Saturday, remained one of the many plans by the PDP in the area to intimidate and misrepresent the President and the APC in the area.

    He threatened to stage a counter protest against the Governor Udom Emmanuel PDP government should it go ahead with the protest.

    Read Also: ‘I ‘ll not leave APC despite my loss in primary election’

    The party, therefore, called on security agencies to stop the planned protest as this, according to them, could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the area.

    “We wish to alert the security agencies and the general public of the street protest planned by the Akwa Ibom State government against Mr. President and the APC federal government. The protest is planned to take place tomorrow, Saturday, 20th October, 2018.

    “As we speak, mobilization has been done. Buses to convey PDP goons and thugs across the state have been mobilized. Funds have been disbursed to the different groups and individuals for mobilization. T-shirts and other logistics have been arranged. A meeting is ongoing now at the Government House to fine tune the plans.

    “The protesters are to march from the Ibom Plaza to the government house where the governor is billed to address them. The governor has shown that he is deceitful, unreliable and desperate. Just yesterday, he was summoned to the Presidential Villa to explain his government’s actions against the APC’s billboards in the state. And he apologized and begged for a lifeline from the president.

    “Such mischievous and wicked plots by the state government are capable of triggering crisis, tension and in the extreme case, breakdown of law and order in the state. The failed PDP government must learn to manage its frustrations.” John said.

    He described the plan as undemocratic and called for an issue based campaign adding that the party could be forced to organize a counter protest against the Governor.

    “We insist the governor must campaign based on his scorecard and not on sentiments and campaigns of calumny against Mr. President and the APC federal government.

    “As a people, we don’t deserve this and we never bargained for this. If the state government don’t desist from this mischievous street protest against our president and party, we’ll be left with no other option than to also plan a mass action against the failed, inept, clueless, rudderless and directionless government in the state.

    “This government has failed irredeemably and the people of the state can’t wait for the 2019 election to replace it with a better brand of governance.” he said

  • Projects’ probe: ICPC withdraws charge against NDDC boss

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has withdrawn the two-count charge it filed against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Nsima Ekere.

    ICPC had, in the charged marked: CR/187/2018, accused NDDC and Ekere of refusing to honour invitation and request for documents in relation to the construction of Umuihe-Odo-Umuanya Road, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.

    Prosecution lawyer, Osuobeni Ekoi Akponimisingha announced ICPC’s decision to withdraw the charge when the case came up on Thursday before Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo, Abuja.

    Read Also:ICPC charges NDDC boss, Ekere for allegedly frustrating investigation

    Akponimisingha said although the prosecution has complied with the court’s earlier order for substituted service of the charge on Ekere, there are new developments in the case, requiring that the charge be withdrawn.

    He said: “While the matter was pending, the defendant complied with our request,  which informed why we filed the charge in the first place.”

    Relying on Section 108 (2)(a) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), the prosecution applied to withdraw the judge, an application Justice Adeniyi granted.

    The judge, in a ruling, said “the prosecution, having applied to withdraw the charge, under ACJA, 2015, the charge with suit No: CR/187/2018, filed on the 4th of May 2018 is accordingly struck out.”

  • Bayelsa not getting its due from NDDC – Group

    …Meddlers behind the allegation – NDDC

     

    A group, the Bayelsa Patriotic Watch (BPW) , has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to beam searchlight on projects awarded by the Nsima Ekere-led board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the state.

    The group said undue interference by the board and its Managing Director in projects for the state are affecting their deliveries and performance.

    But an aide to the NDDC MD debunked the allegation, accusing “political jobbers and mischief makers” who are not getting easy money as they were used to for the attack.

    The BPW alleged that contracts meant for the state were being awarded to non-indigenes and those who can further the political ambition of some of the NDDC leaders.

    These were contained in a statement signed by BPW President and Secretary-General, Chief Fyneface Tari and Hon Suoyo Ebi, respectively.

    The MD’s aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We are used to such baseless accusation by people who are used to getting free money.

    Read Also: Court orders forfeiture of NDDC director’s N800m Lekki property

    “As soon as the free money stopped, they are resulting to blackmail and mudslinging because the MD is not prepared to sacrifice the commission for their personal gains”.

    But BPW leaders insisted, “Our organization is a collegiate of recognized youths leaders and stakeholders in the protection of and prospecting for greater Bayelsa state and Ijaw interest in the NDDC.

    “We are constrained to draw the attention of the general public and indeed the Presidency to the cross purposes and selfish pursuit of the NDDC, especially the MD’s neck-deep pursuit of 2019 governorship ambition back in his home state of Akwa-Ibom.”

    The group said the alleged ambition is distracting the MD from focusing on the development of the region, particularly on their state.

    “We are alarmed that Mr. Ekere-led board is still desperately awarding juicy contracts meant for Bayelsa people to his cronies and supporters of his gubernatorial ambition in Akwa Ibom state, thereby robbing Peter to pay Paul.

    “Key life touching projects of NDDC that had been blatantly abandoned by Nsima-led NDDC include the Opu/Nembe sand filled Road; the Shoreline Protection Project in Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opukuma LGA.”

    They lamented that the board had refused to revisit the project, but instead allegedly “diverted resources and opportunities mean for such projects for personal ambitions.

  • Group beg Ekere to contest Akwa Ibom governorship

    More groups and individuals have continued to urge the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere to contest for the Akwa Ibom state governorship in 2019.

    The latest is from a group, One for Good Governance which was inaugurated on Tuesday at Amazing Grace E-Centre, Uyo.

    Founder and international president of the group, Dr. Ndem Ndem said that the call became necessary considering what he described as clueless leadership in the state.

    Ndem, a United States-based medical doctor bemoaned the under-development in the state, blaming same on the state governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel’s refusal to channel huge resources accruing to the state adequately.

    He said “It baffles me and any right-thinking and development conscious Akwa Ibom citizen that this state could be this underdeveloped in spite of huge resources accruing to the state on monthly basis.

    “Let me use this medium to inform Akwa Ibom people who may not have known that this state receives the highest monthly allocation from the federal government. It is therefore worrisome that the governor has refused to channel adequately the state’s huge resources towards her development probably because he lacks the knowledge on how to do it.

    “So this is why we, ONE for Good Governance, OGG, have come today to unanimously urge the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission, His Excellency, Obong Nsima Ekere to resign his current position and contest the forthcoming 2019 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State. Our call becomes necessary because we have seen him to be the person with requisite capacity to govern the state and deliver the needed development”.

    On his part, the National/State Coordinator, OGG, Hon. Udeme Esset, noted that the group has decided to follow the footsteps of good governance.

    Hon. Esset, who stated this in his acceptance speech immediately after his inauguration, maintained that after taking time to assess, study and scrutinize, they had seen good virtues in Obong Nsima Ekere (ONE), hence their resolve to urge him to join the state’s governorship race in 2019.

    The address reads thus in parts “Today marks a very significant day because we have formally put ourselves forward for service to our Mother land. Governance is a dynamic process that has to do with constant change. We, as a group have decided to follow the footsteps of good governance. To enthrone a system that will encourage what we stand for, and having taken time to assess, study and scrutinize, we have seen good  virtues of good governance in ‘ONE’ man…” the OGG state helmsman said.

    He continued: “Today, we stand as a people to affirm our commitment and strong faith in making sure that come 2019, our ‘ONE’ will take over the helms of affairs of this our great state. By the grace of God, in ONE spirit, we will succeed and overcome”.

    Also speaking at the occasion a onetime governorship candidate in the state, Arc (Obong) Ekong Etuk, commended the group for canvassing for good governance. Arc. Etuk who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) Political leader in Etinan Local Government Area, gave kudos to his party for providing platforms for Akwa Ibom indigenes to exhibit their sterling qualities in different capacities.

    He praised the MD of NDDC, Obong Nsima Ekere for his sterling performance at the commission, noting that his land mark achievements have placed Akwa Ibom State on the podium of reckoning.

    Others who spoke glowingly of the group and Obong  Nsima Ekere included the Chancellor of OGG, Mr. Edobot Ekere, State Vice Chairman of APC, Akwa Ibom South-west, Elder Emmanuel Oton and a host of other dignitaries.

    High point of the occasion was the inauguration of the State Executive Council of the group comprising State Exco, Three Senatorial District Coordinators, Ten Federal Constituency Coordinators, thirty-one Chapter Coordinators as well as Women and Youth Leaders from the thirty-one local government areas of the state.

  • NDDC to complete 25km road project in Imo – Ekere

    The Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) plans to complete 25-km dual carriage way to connect Imo and Rivers states, an official said.

    Mr Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of NDDC, gave assurance while inspecting the road project, according to a statement by the commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Ibitoye Abosede, on Monday in Port Harcourt.

    Ekere said the project would run through Port Harcourt Owerri junction-Avu-Adapalm-Etekuru-Ohaji Egbema and terminate at Ogba Egbema Local Government Area in Imo.

    He said: “The road is very important project for the NDDC and the Niger Delta. It will enhance regional integration which is one of the things the current things that we are passionate about.

    “Also, the expansion of the road means that the project will cumulatively amount to constructing 50-km of road.

    “This is so because 25-km of the existing road will be totally reconstructed,” he said.

    According to the statement, Ekere also inspected construction of internal roads in Umueze, Ehime Mbano and Obolo, Isiala Mbano local government areas in Imo.

    The NDDC boss said that NDDC would construct other undisclosed internal roads spanning four kilometres across the two local government areas.

    “We are committed to building sustainable infrastructure in the region. We don’t want to build roads that will fail after six months.

    “If we are able to complete one kilometre road, then it should be a solid road infrastructure that will last for a long time

    “We are happy with the contractor working on the Obolo-Umueze road for taking measures to guarantee quality delivery considering the challenging terrain of the region,” he said.

    The NDDC boss urged the people to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to develop rural communities in the Niger Delta.

    According to the statement, Eze Igu, the paramount ruler of Umueze 1, thanked the commission for building internal roads in the area.

    “By fixing our roads, the NDDC board and management have shown us love and has given us hope and confidence on the administration of President Buhari,” he said.

    NAN

  • How we cleared deficit and improve service delivery, by NDDC boss

    The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nsima Ekere, has explained how his leadership has repositioned the agency for better service delivery. He speaks on several issues, including his gubernatorial ambition. WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    Reforming modus operandi

    The greatest challenge that NDDC faced under my tenure is the over training the commission had been involved with before we came on board. The balance sheet of the commission is over-bloated. In fact, the auditor’s report for last year stated a contingent liability of N1.7 trillion. In the course of previous year, we had to determine sustainability of some projects; we had to terminate non-performing projects in two tranches. In the first tranche, 624 projects were terminated. The projects we terminated in the first tranche were worth over N200 billion; while the second also ran into multi billion naira. We have been able to reduce the deficit in our balance sheet by about N300 billion since we came in. This is one of the reforms agenda we articulated when we came on board. We called the reform 4Rs, which is geared towards turning around the balance sheet of the commission and reduce new commitment and liabilities we create. We dedicated 70 per cent of our budget to complete ongoing projects, while we reserve 30 per cent to cater for overhead cost and new projects. This is deliberate, because there is no point to recreating new liabilities when there is no money we can use to take care of them. We want to use most of the money that comes in to service ongoing projects. The second “R” in our reform agenda is to restructure the governance system of NDDC. We want the commission to known as an organisation that respects laws and governance policies. We want to put a culture of due process in place. Before now, anything could happen in NDDC. We had a retreat when came on board. One of the facilitators, Dr. Joe Abah of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms said when they did a review of NDDC, it was discovered that everything that could possibly be wrong with an organisation was wrong with NDDC. That is why we said we must improve the governance system, develop and bring in technology to fix it. The third reform we did was to restore the commission back to its core mandate. We planned to get NDDC to concentrate on doing big ticket projects that will promote regional integration and boost the regional economy. In collaboration with stakeholders in the region, particularly the state governments, we have come up with projects that would lead to regional integration. We were in Ondo State recently where we flagged off the construction of 51 kilometre road linking the Ilaje part of the state to Lagos. We also have collaboration with the governments of Edo and Cross River states to do projects. The fourth reform we carried out is to generally rededicate ourselves to doing things in right way for the benefit of the Niger Delta region. We have been getting positive feedbacks from the reforms we initiated. But, are we where we want to be? No. But, the reforms are taking the commission steadily to the destination. I hope people that would take over from us would see the need to sustain the reform.

     

    Challenges against the commission’s plan

    The greatest challenge to our plan is the attitude of some people in the Niger Delta region, particularly the youth. These people have a sense of entitlement, because they have been entertained for so long. They are used to getting things done in a particular way and getting certain kind of gratification. Since they are not getting what they used to get, they are not happy with us. Weeks ago, I got threats from some group. They went to online media and posted that our administration is the worst in the history of NDDC. They urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to dissolve the NDDC Board and reconstitute a new one. We decided to call them and asked why they posted the threat. They said they were expecting money from NDDC and they had not got it. So, how do you take out government money and just handover to a group of people just because you don’t want them to malign you? If you pay them, another group would do the same thing. They would write unbelievable allegations against us. One of those funny allegations recently made against our management is that, we had wasted N500 billion in one year. That is laughable, we have not received 20 per cent of that money. How do you waste something you have never received? But these people don’t even care, so far their aim is to box you into submission to their wishes.

     

    Determining projects to carry out

    When we came on board, we decided to adopt bottom-up approach in project conceptualisation. We get representation from all the communities in the region on continuous basis. Because we made up our mind on working collaboratively with the state governments; before now, we had a situation where there were conflicts with the state governments in terms of project duplication. We set up state project committees for each state, which also serve as budget committees. Each state’s representative on the board of NDDC chairs that committee. We ask them to go to their respective states and engage with the government on project requests coming from communities to know which project NDDC should take on. So, that is how we generate the project that we put into our budget and send to the National Assembly. I can’t say there would not be political interference in project allocation. Some inputs from the political class usually come in, particularly from members of the National Assembly. Once we send in our budget, it becomes the property of the National Assembly. Whatever they return to you is your actual budget. At times, some of the projects we get in the final draft of the budget are not the ones we suggested. That is where political interference comes in. We end up embarking on projects that are not necessarily within our vision.

     

    Funding the NDDC

    This is a very great challenge for the NDDC. I had a friend who was also a former Managing Director of the commission years ago. When he took over, he met a balance of N140 billion and used that to start work. When we came, we met about N2 billion. Meanwhile, the salary bill for NDDC in a month is about N800 million. By the time we paid the first salary, almost half of the money was gone. To improve our financial base, we have been working aggressively with the oil companies to get their contribution to the NDDC funds along with contribution from the Federal Government. There is a huge deficit in terms of what we get and what we are supposed to get from the Federal Government. Cumulatively over the years, we have a deficit of N1.8 trillion debt which the Federal Government is owing the NDDC from inception till date. We have written to the Federal Government and fortunately we got the sympathy of the President concerning this. He directed the Ministries of Finance and Budget and Planning to engage the NDDC and do a reconciliation on the exact amount the Federal Government is owing the commission, with the aim to agree on acceptable payment plan. Unfortunately, we are not getting the kind of support we expected from the Ministry of Finance till date. That is where we are. We are putting pressure on them. Definitely, we have challenges with funding. The oil companies have been contributing their dues to the commission. We had a major issue with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) recently. With the amendment of the NLNG Act, we are able to get some contribution from NLNG into NDDC. So, there is a progress in terms of looking beyond the government’s contribution. We appreciate the support of the National Assembly in retrieving funds.

     

    ‘What has changed under our leadership’

    Last year alone, we were able to complete over 370 projects. It is a record success. It has never happened before in the history of the commission. These projects included roads, bridges, solar energy production and other areas. The perception that NDDC is a cash cow is not true. If it was true, I personally would have been a beneficiary. When we came, we instituted reforms based on our 4Rs strategy. We sought to change the way the commission is run. We want to make the NDDC transparent and efficient. On a monthly basis, NDDC get N5 billion from the federation account. By the time workers’ salaries, imprest to the various directorates and other overheads are paid, we may be left with N3 billion. And the commission has contingent liability of over N1 trillion; so, how can NDDC be a cash cow? So, it is a wrong perception. Managing an agency like NDDC is a tough job. Because we have institutionalised due process and transparency in the system, to get one kobo from the agency, you will go through over 50 stages. This is done to improve transparency and accountability.

     

    Allocation of projects in states

    The way we allocate projects in our area of activities is based on two principles. One is quality of state and the percentage of oil production of any particular state. That is what we use to determine how projects are shared among oil-producing states. For a very long time, Akwa Ibom has been the number one oil producer in the country. This information could be verified from NNPC’s chart. That automatically means that Akwa Ibom is supposed to have highest number of projects from NDDC. Before we came on board, that was not the situation. In doing what is right, we said we would give Akwa Ibom its fair share because of its sheer size of contribution to the national economy. It is unfortunate that people are now looking at it from a political angle, which is making some people feel threatened because of the projects we are bringing to Akwa Ibom State.

     

    Gubernatorial ambition

    It is too early to say whether I want to contest for governor in Akwa Ibom State or not. I am working in NDDC for now.

  • Nsima Ekere: When a good manager is honoured

    Tommorow, Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of  the Niger Delta Development Commission, will be honoured with a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Management Technology by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. 

    Though an unwritten principle, the post of Managing Director of the NDDC, just like that of the World Bank and other sustainable development agencies-however how political it is- has always been and may always be, held by experts in the fields associated with sustainable development – engineering, journalism, estate and quantity survey, medicine, law, architecture and their likes.

    The incumbent, Mr. Nsima Ekere is an estate surveyor and valuer, registered by the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria (ESVRBN), a fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), a senior certified valuer by the International Real Estate Institute, USA and an associate member of the Institute of Revenues, Rating and Valuation, UK.

    Beyond his professional background, he has had valuable on-the-job experiences in other areas still linked to sustainable development like investment and portfolio management, construction, power sector administration, assets management, oil and gas and related services. He was also Deputy Governor-and Acting Governor for one month of Akwa Ibom State where he was responsible for boundary and emergency management, aside other duties of general governance, including an oversight over the state power sector and associated projects.

    It was not in doubt, therefore, that he will bring all these experiences to bear when he assumed duty at the Commission in November 2016.

    One of the changes he brought was to rejig the Commission’s financial regime. The budgeting process was made practical and realistic.

    The education sector, naturally, benefitted from the change Ekere wrought. The Commission had always intervened in the sector especially in the area of infrastructural development – of lecture halls, hostels, classrooms. But Ekere tied all these interventions to a huge portfolio of investment in human capacity development and youth empowerment.

    Today, over 22,612 youths and women, including several by Ekere’s management, have been trained by the Commission in the areas of welding and fabrication, modern printing technology, solar power technology, food processing, enterprise development; catering and confectionaries; creative arts and entertainment; fashion design; wall screeding; POP installation; electrical wiring; interior decoration; plumbing; painting; and specialized carpentry. This year alone, over 100 youths have been signed on to undergo skills acquisition training at Inosson Motors Industry.

    In the higher institutions in the region, most of the best hostels – 18 in all across the region – were built by the NDDC.

    The NDDC has so far sponsored over 1,410 postgraduate students to different foreign universities in nine special skills areas including oil and gas law. Ekere, aside from intervening in the issue of non-payment of grants to awardees of the scholarship programme he met on assumption of duty, has also articulated and, is working on getting intellectually smart and alert indigenes of the region to be awarded undergraduate scholarships too.

    An annual NDDC Moot Court Trial Competition, only recently started by Ekere’s management, is one of the Commission’s several interventions in horning the practical skills of the region’s undergraduates in their areas of specialization. The Library Complex assured the Federal University of Petroleum, Effurun, by the Commission, recently, signposts the Commission’s continued intervention in the area of necessary education facilities in the region.

    To boost digital learning, Ekere’s management is planning to link the entire region with fibre optics that facilitates internet penetration and spread, to the greater benefit of students in the region.

    Ekere, knowing that the foundation is germane for education to be productive in the future, recently flagged off the distribution of 72,000 chairs and desks for schools across the region. This is aside a whooping N2billion to be spent on schools’ renovations this year alone.

    In partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, and Builders Hub Impact Investment Programme, the Commission plans to establish Nigeria’s first and grandest enterprise and growth hub, which will enable budding entrepreneurs and startups find meaningful expression.

    • Efo is an Uyo-based journalist. 

     

  • Another giant stride for Nsima Ekere

    Another giant stride for Nsima Ekere

    Great leaders do not come around often. And when they do, it usually takes time for the rest of the world to acknowledge their greatness. This aptly captures the case of the Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, Nsima Ekere, who is only just beginning to get the recognition his efforts have long deserved.

    He recently announced to a jubilant staff of the NDDC plans to finally move into their permanent head office in Port Harcourt next year, after decades of making do with a temporary head office.

    As part of his unquenchable desire to better the lot of the people of the Niger Delta region, Nsima has been at the forefront of the commission’s recent moves. Like an experienced driver navigating a familiar terrain, he has been steering the activities of the NDDC in a direction that is sure to yield the greatest possible dividends to his people.

    One of the fruits of this new direction is the recent partnership with SMEDAN to create jobs for the youths. Another is the impending N5 billion partnership with the Nigerian Import-Export Bank (NEXIM) to boost agriculture and SME development in the region. With all these moves, it is no wonder that Ekere is quickly becoming a symbol of hope to the people of the South-south.

  • NDDC, NSIP to tackle poverty in Niger Delta – Ekere

    NDDC, NSIP to tackle poverty in Niger Delta – Ekere

    The Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) says it will work with the National Social Investment Programme ( NSIP ) to eradicate poverty in Niger Delta.

    NDDC Managing Director, Mr Nsima Ekere, said this on Thursday in Port Harcourt, when the Special Adviser to the President and Head of NSIP, Mrs Maryam Uwais, led a delegation to the commission’s headquarters.

    According to a statement by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ibitoye Abosede, NDDC will support NSIP to fight poverty in Niger Delta because poverty knows no political affiliation or religious inclination.

    “I am happy that NSIP is fighting poverty and striving to give hope to the poorest of the poor – who arguably are more in the Niger Delta that produces the nation’s wealth.

    “The present NDDC board and management are making efforts to return the commission to its core mandate. This explains why we currently have as much as 8,000 projects ongoing,” he said.

    Ekere said the desire to end poverty in the region led the board to adopt a 4-R strategy which focuses on redefining the commission’s processes.

    He said the strategy aimed at restructuring the commission’s balance sheet; restore its core mandate and reaffirm commitment to doing what was right and proper at all times.

    He said the strategy also entails reformation of the commission’s governance system to ensure it complies with extant rules and regulations.

    “NDDC has done a lot in infrastructure over the years; however, we also want to build human capital, which is the area that connects with NSIP mandate to fight poverty.

    “We are embarking on collaborations that will help; recently, we signed agreement with NEXIM bank to help us achieve this.

    “We want to create an export initiative in the agricultural sector – which will create jobs and help the nation’s economy, especially now that value of crude oil is waning,” he said.

    Ekere said the commission was in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency ( SMEDAN ) to create jobs for indigent youths and train women on businesses.

    Earlier, Uwais, the Head, NSIP, called on NDDC to assist the body to drive its four social investment programmes in the region.

    She said the Federal Government’s N-Power job programme for unemployed tertiary graduates in the country was by far “the largest spending item among its four social investment programmes.”

    “N-Power job scheme for unemployed graduates is running in 36 states and have seen 200,000 unemployed youths effectively enrolled, validated in 2016 and cleared to receive N30,000 monthly stipend.

    “The number of beneficiaries is expected to increase to about 400,000 in a couple of months,” she said.

    Uwais said they had made progress with GEEP, designed to empower market women, traders and artisans, with the disbursement of interest free loans.

    She said the portal for engagement of the beneficiaries would soon be opened and would last for a period of six weeks.

    NAN

  • NDDC to build women development centres

    NDDC to build women development centres

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it will build and equip women development centres in nine states of the Niger Delta region as part of its efforts to empower women economically.

    Mr Nsima Ekere, the Managing Director of NDDC made this known in a statement issued by the commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Ibitoye Abosede in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    Ekere said this when members of the Forum of Niger Delta Women (FNDW) visited the commission.

    Ekere said that the commission would work closely with the Forum to provide women with training programmes in agriculture, among others.

    “The training will come with starter packs and seed capital to ensure its sustainability aimed at developing the capacity of women in the region.

    “We are only concerned with the behaviour of some trainees who sell their starter-packs which reverses the gains of the programme,” he said.

    According to Ekere, women are drivers of the economy and have played important roles in the development of the country since independence.

    “Women are drivers of the society as well as shape the thinking of society and order the ways of the youth.

    “This is because, mothers have great influence on a child, and as such, whoever jokes with women will have him or herself to blame,” he said.

    Ekere urged the forum to sensitise younger women on the need to avoid violence and criminality that were inimical to the progress of the country.

    The managing director said that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to the development of the Niger Delta, and as such, deserved support of women in the region.

    Earlier, Mrs Maureen Tamuno, the Coordinator of FNDW said the forum was prepared to work with NDDC to develop the region.

    She commended the commission’s governing board and management over formulation and implementation of policies that sought to improve lives of the people.

    “We observed with pleasure the commission’s desire to bring about development and readiness to engage women and youths to curb restiveness in the society,” he said.

    Tamuno called on NDDC to build women centres in every state and in some local government areas of the region to give women a sense of belonging.