its mandate to the people of the Niger Delta region.
Giving the assurance yesterday during a courtesy visit at the NDDC
headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police,
Mr. Joseph Mukan, said that those threatening arson at the Commission
would be stopped in their tracks.
The Commissioner, who was received by the NDDC Acting Managing Director,
Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, the Acting Executive Director, Finance and
Administration, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang; the Acting Executive
Director, Projects, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, warned those plotting evil
against the Commission to desist forthwith.
Mukan Said: “Policing Rivers State will be incomplete without securing
NDDC. I want to assure the Commission that in spite of the threats we
saw in the media two weeks ago, the intention of the evil ones to burn
down the Commission’s headquarters can never succeed.
“We have put machinery in place as directed by the Inspector General of
Police to ensure that the Commission is secured. The IG has given me the
marching orders to beef up the security architecture in NDDC.”
Mukan said the police would do everything possible to ensure that the
NDDC was adequately secured to enable it deliver development projects
and programmes for the people of the Niger Delta region, assuring that
the cooperation that had existed between the Commission and the Police
would continue and be strengthened.
He stated: “We will be proactive in tackling the security challenges
facing the NDDC. We will not wait for any negative thing to happen
before we start acting. Our machinery is already on ground and I can
assure you that the evil plans of the enemy to destroy the NDDC will
fail.
“The IG sees the NDDC as very strategic and will do everything necessary
to ensure that the good services you are giving to the people of the
Niger Delta is not hindered.”
Responding, Prof Pondei thanked the police commissioner for cooperating
with the NDDC, noting that the bond between the Commission and the
police would be further strengthened.
He stated that the NDDC was resolute in ensuring that it rendered
quality service to the people of the region in line with its mandate.
He remarked: “We have a cordial working relationship with the security
agencies, because without security, we will not be able to intervene as
expected in developing the Niger Delta region.
“The police continues to provide security and other logistic services to
the Commission. We are very grateful for this cordial relationship and
hope that it will continue and be made stronger.”
Pondei said that the visit of the Police Commissioner was timely as
there was a publication recently, threatening arson on the Commission.
“This is something that we cannot take lightly. We know that it has to
do with the on-going forensic audit and we are working with the police
to make sure that nothing untoward happens to the NDDC, he said.
Pondei said further: “We trust that the police will work with us to make
sure that the Commission was secured and I believe that working together
we will be able to deliver the mandate for which the NDDC was set up.”