The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission,
NDDC, Professor Nelson Brambaifa, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari
for demonstrating an enduring love for the people of the Niger Delta region.
The new Chief Executive Officer of the interventionist agency, who spoke
during the inaugural meeting of the new management, the directors and staff
of the NDDC at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, noted that
the Federal Government had “indeed begun refunding over N1.3 Trillion owed
the Commission since inception.”
Prof. Brambaifa, whose appointment was announced on Friday, January 25,
2019, alongside that of the Acting Executive Director Finance and
Administration, Mr Chris Amadi and the Acting Executive Director Projects,
Engr. Dr Samuel Adjogbe, FNSE, said the appointment of the new management
team was a response to the growing unhappiness in the Niger Delta region
over government’s commitment to developing the region and improving the
living conditions of the people.
The Acting Managing Director said that the Niger Delta region had suffered
enough and President Buhari recognised this fact and that prompt action to
redress the situation and reassure the people of the region of government’s
commitment to their welfare through infrastructural development and
capacity building for the youths of the region.
Prof. Brambaifa reiterated that President Buhari, had for the first time
since the establishment of the NDDC, ensured that the Federal Government
started to meet its statutory financial obligations to the Commission in
full.
He said that President Buhari also ensured that all other statutory
contributors to the funding of NDDC met their obligations, noting that the
President also worked to restore peace and security in the region by
tackling all grievances of the people.
The new NDDC boss said that the appointment of the management team was
another step in the effort to offer hope to the Niger Delta people and
restore their confidence and faith in rebuilding the Niger Delta region.
The Ag. MD pledged to do everything necessary to respect and implement the
mandate of the Commission, “which is to facilitate the sustainable
development of the Niger Delta, into a region that is socially stable,
economically prosperous, politically peaceful and ecologically
regenerative.”
He stated that it was necessary to start work immediately, stating: “The
task of developing the Niger Delta is too important to be toyed with, and
too compelling to waste time on.”
He urged all stakeholders in the Niger Delta to “join hands with members of
the new executive management to ensure a smooth transition, as well as
contribute to the immediate delivery on Mr President’s mandate.”
He enjoined the staff of the NDDC to embrace teamwork, hard work and
professionalism in the discharge of their work and promised to “change NDDC
and take it to the next level.”
*Ibitoye Abosede, Ph.D*
Director, Corporate Affairs
January 28, 2019.