The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has inaugurated two
committees to facilitate reforms in the commission and drive projects in
the Niger Delta.
A statement issued by Ibitoye Abosede, the commission’s Director of
Corporate Affairs on Wednesday, said that the NDDC’s Interim
Administrator, Mr Efiong Akwa inaugurated the committees.
The two committees are NDDC Reforms Committee and Project Commissioning
Committee.
Mr Anslem Agommuoh, NDDC’s Director of Information Technology, is
chairing the reforms committee, while Mr Julius George, also a director
in the Commission chairs the project commissioning committee.
The interim administration assured that the commission had prioritised
completion and inauguration of big projects in the region.
“It is a thing of joy that the 13-floor new NDDC permanent headquarters
which has been outstanding for over 20 years has now been completed.
“Now, we have a befitting headquarters building that is due for
commissioning, and we look forward to the end of January and second week
of February for the historic commissioning,” he said.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari would be invited to inaugurate
the building at a date convenient for him.
According to him, the people of the region want to see physical
infrastructure on ground as against listening to stories coming from the
commission.
“So, we cannot continue to deny members of the various communities the
benefits of projects sited in their areas.
“Many projects, including roads, bridges, schools, hostels and health
centres have been completed but were not handed over to communities or
end users.
“We are departing from the era when projects are executed and left to
rot or when we just inaugurate projects and leave them without anybody
taking ownership.
“When projects are commissioned and taken over by benefiting
communities, the people will have cause to thank the Federal Government
and NDDC,’’ he said.
Akwa said the committees would usher reforms to enable the intervention
agency to deliver its core mandate to people of the region.
According to him, recommendations of the reforms committee will be
forwarded to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs for onward transmission
to the National Assembly for appropriate legislation.
“For instance, we want to propose that the position of Executive
Director, Projects should be renamed Executive Director Engineering and
Technical Services,” he said. (NAN)