MD , DR SAMUEL OGBUKU, EDP, CHARLES OGUNMOLA AND OTHERS
BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC Dr. Samuel Ogbuku says the master plan of the Commission which expired after fifteen years, will be revisited to capture the present challenges facing the region.
Dr Ogbuku who made this known while playing host to a delegation of leaders of Ethnic Nationalities, critical stakeholders and Professional Bodies in the Niger Delta Region at NDDC headquarters, Port Harcourt Rivers State, noted that the new trend of perennial flooding and other ecological challenges facing the region need to be tackled immediately.
The managing Director told the delegation that one of the major causes of abandonment of projects was budgetary allocation, as such, major stakeholders would be involved while planning for next year’s budget.
While giving assurance of his determination to deliver on his mandate, he reminded the leaders that Niger Delta region has gone beyond arm struggle into intellectual struggle.
The Chief Executive Officer of the interventionist agency who acknowledged the contributions of the stakeholders in the creation of the agency, told them that NDDC has made remarkable impacts in many communities in the region.
The NDDC CEO revealed that there would be Niger Delta summit where stakeholders will come together to brainstorm over the development of the region.
According to him, the budget will be presented to the stakeholders during the summit to decide on the most important aspects to be focused.
He explained that management was exploring various platforms for sustainability and human capital development, such as partnership, investment, collaboration with development partners and donor agencies.
Earlier in a presentation, Leader of the delegation and President of Pan Niger Delta Forum PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Essien
said that they were happy that the MD was retained after dissolution of the Board.
Senator Essien who told Dr. Ogbuku that their visit was to pass vote of confidence on him, enjoined the Managing Director not to dissapoint.
The Leader of the group who noted that the destiny of people of Niger Delta region is tied to the commission, emphasized the importance of legacy projects across the region.
