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Activities to mark the silver jubilee celebration of the Niger Delta Development Commission got to a climax on Saturday in Port Harcourt, with the president of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu pledging to sustain consistent funding of the commission to enable them perform.
Tinubu spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume. He said the NDDC was doing well in developing the Niger Delta communities and needed the support of all for them to fulfil their mandate.
Tinubu who noted that community development was very dear to his heart said the peace and security of the region would remain top on his agenda.
“As I told the leaders of the region in March of this year, the Niger Delta is the goose that lays the golden egg; we must care for the goose to continue reaping the benefits of the golden egg.
“Consequently, I pledged the full commitment of this administration to support the development of the region and empower the NDDC to fulfill its statutory mandate.
“A significant testament to this commitment is the swift constitution of the NDDC Board early in the life of my administration. Indeed, the NDDC was one of the first full boards inaugurated shortly after I assumed office. This prompt action underscores the priority we place on the Commission as a vehicle for accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
“Since the inception of this administration, the NDDC has received increased funding from the federal government, enabling it to meet its obligations and deliver key projects. We will continue to ensure that the Commission remains adequately empowered to carry out its functions effectively.
Tinubu said the had mandated the commission to ensure the completion of abandoned critical projects including the Kaa-Ataba Bridge, Okrika-Borokiri Bridge, Bonny Ring Road, Gbaregolo Roads and Bridges and the East-West Sampou Roads and Bridges, among several others.
“Beyond infrastructural development, the NDDC must continue to prioritise human capital development, as it remains the primary index of progress. Projects and programmes that directly impact the lives of ordinary people in rural communities must be prioritised. In this regard, I commend the Board and Management for the “Light Up the Niger Delta Initiative”, which he said had helped greatly in changing the face of the region .
Tinubu, just like a former minister of finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also urged the commission to pay some more attention to the empowerment of youths in the region.
The former minister who delivered a virtual address called on the NDDC to give special attention to the economic development of the Niger Delta, even as she praised the commission for development efforts so far.
“Let me first congratulate the NDDC for the work it has carried out for the people of the Niger Delta. If I’m a bit critical in my speech, you know me, I mean it for good, because I think you have done a lot, but you still have a lot to do.
“The NDDC was established in 2000 by former president Obasanjo, as a successor to OMPADEC, which had been in operation since the days of the military government. This was in response to the cries of marginalisation and underdevelopment by the people of the Niger Delta, where Nigeria’s oil and gas resources are concentrated.
“Oil and gas exploration, by its nature, often poses challenges to its environment in the form of pollution of land and waters. Gas flaring is another hazard that the people in the environment have had to deal with.
“These challenges were backed up by the government with the setting up of the NDDC. You, the NDDC, cannot afford to fail.
“As you well know, the oil and gas accounts for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange, and 70 per cent of its fiscal revenue, which is why it is regarded as the lifeblood of the economy. The people of the region must be carried along so that they can feel their concerns are being addressed.
“The goose that lays the golden egg deserves attention in the form of infrastructure and social services to ensure that there is peace in the area, so it can continue to contribute optimally to the economy of the country.
“In this regard, the purpose of the federal government was to use the NDDC as a vehicle to address some of the challenges of the oil communities were facing, including the environmental degradation from oil and gas exploration as it affects oil and fishing activities, infrastructure and the general absence of economic opportunities.
“All of these caused a lot of frustrations that have affected the operations of the oil industry and threaten the prosperity of the country. The NDDC, therefore, has a very important responsibility, first to the people of the region, to ensure that it positively affects the lives of the people, and secondly, that it leads to contentment of the people, to enable the Federal Government to optimally earn revenue from it.
In his welcome address, managing director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku hailed the president and the National Assembly for the support and encouragement given to the commission from inception and said under him, the commission had enjoyed tremendous encouragement.
He said “at 25, the Niger Delta Development Commission stands at a pivotal threshold- one shaped by the lessons of history and the urgency of now. This silver jubilee is not just a celebration of longevity, it is an invitation to reaffirm the commission’s founding mandate: catalyse sustainable development in one of Nigeria’s most vital yet complex regions.
“The Niger Delta’s paradox has long been evident-immense natural wealth coexisting with deep-rooted developmental challenges. The establishment of the NDDC was a bold recognition that the region’s transformation required more than ad-hoc projects; it demanded a coordinated, long term and inclusive vision.
He assured that the Niger Delta would continually enjoy transformation through the NDDC because of the commitment of the board and management which he said were exceptional in the dedication to the cause of taking the region to higher heights.
In their goodwill messages, a former president of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and the PANDEF president, Ambassador Godknows Igali commended the NDDC for the efforts in pushing for the region’s development, but they also challenged the management to do more.
