The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission,
NDDC, Prof. Nelson Brambaifa, has pledged to work with traditional
rulers in providing sustainable development for the Niger Delta region.
Prof. Brambaifa said this during a courtesy visit by members of the Izon
Elders Council, Delta State, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port
Harcourt.
He challenged the royal fathers to continue to support the development
process, noting that they play a crucial role in ensuring peace as well as
providing a platform for dialogue.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer NDDC remarked that efforts were being made
to revive the Partners for Sustainable Development, PSD, Forum, to serve as
a clearing house for its projects. He said that the PSD Forum was an
important organ for bringing all the stakeholders under one umbrella to aid
the process of harmonizing development projects as enunciated in the Niger
Delta Regional Development Master Plan (NDRDMP).
Prof. Brambaifa underscored the role of the Commission as an
interventionist agency charged with the responsibility of fast tracking the
development of Nigeria’s oil rich region.
He said: “Our goal is to uplift the living standard of our people, engage
in infrastructural development and drive a robust capacity building. These
are the things we are doing to promote the stability of our region, and we
urge you to be partners with us.”
The NDDC boss urged key stakeholders in the Niger Delta region not to
relent in their efforts to address the challenges restiveness to create the
right environment for the NDDC to complete all its projects and thus take
the region to the next level.
In his address, the Chairman of Izon Council of Elders, Chief Bare Etolor,
felicitated with the Acting Managing Director and the other executive
directors on their appointment and expressed eagerness to partner with the
NDDC in bringing sustainable development to the Niger Delta region.
Chief Etolor said: “Our voice has been heard across the country on issues
concerning peace, development, youth restiveness,
inter-ethnic/multi-national community relationship, resource control and
good governance.”
He appealed to the NDDC boss to ensure the completion of the Commission’s
projects, especially in all the Ijaw communities. He equally pleaded for
the award of contract for the Phase 2 channelization of the Ogbe-Ijoh
Bututu River creek.
*Charles Odili *Director, Corporate Affairs.
March 22, 2019