The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and the Delta State Government
have agreed to pull resources together for the construction of the
Omadino-Okerenkoko-Escravos Road, as part of the on-going collaboration
with governments of the nine states of the region.
The road is expected to provide access to the Maritime University, Okerenkoko Escravos Gas Terminal, and other communities in one of the major oil and gas hubs of the Niger Delta.
The groundwork for the partnership was laid recently when members of the NDDC Board and Management, led by its Chairman, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, paid a courtesy visit to Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, at Government House, Asaba.
Dr. Okowa gave kudos to NDDC for emphasizing collaboration among the various stakeholders in the Niger Delta, saying: “We need to have more of such big-ticket projects that will be impactful on the lives people in the region.”
He advised that the budgetary process of the interventionist agency needed to be reviewed, stating that this was necessary to ensure that projects were adequately provided for in its annual budgets to bridge funding gaps.
The Delta State Governor said that it was in the best interest of the NDDC to reform some of its processes, noting that the new spirit of partnership was welcome. He said: “we are glad that you have invited the President to re-activate the Advisory Committee that will enable the governors to make inputs to the activities of the Commission.”
The Governor said that NDDC needs to refine its budgeting process, observing that “the kind of adhoc budgets that the Commission runs now causes many problems.” He underlined the need for the NDDC to engage the National Assembly during the budgeting season.
He advised the NDDC to reform its wealth creation programmes, noting that mentoring should be embedded in the programmes to ensure their sustainability. Mentoring, he said, “will ensure that we have less failures and a valuable support for the beneficiaries.”
Meanwhile, in Akwa Ibom the NDDC has donated a Generator to the Ibom Specialist Clinic and Referal center to aid the hospital to perform its services.
The managing Director of the NDDC Mr Nsima Ekere said it was part of the mandate of the agency to bring succour to states in the region.
Reacting, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom state said the state being the largest crude oil producer in the country, deserves more than generators and called on the NDDC management to come and partner with the state bring more developments to the state.
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