NDDC RIVERS STATE REP TRACES PROJECT ABANDONMENT TO FREQUENCY OF BOARD CHANGE
BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
The Representative of Rivers State in the governing board of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Chief Tony Okocha says
Rivers State has over nine hundred uncompleted projects of NDDC across the state.
Chief Okocha who made this known during an interactive with Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers in Port Harcourt Rivers State, noted that one of the major issues that caused the abandonment was frequency of change of NDDC board.
According to the Rivers State representative who acknowledged that the commission was established to tackle poverty in Niger Delta region, the present board was out to change the perception in the past about NDDC being a cash cow.
He identified new areas to pay attention to include, human capacity development, free medical care, educational advancement as well as social activities to foster unity in Rivers State.
Chief Okocha solicited support of the traditional rulers for the Interventionist agency.
Similarly, the Executive Director Finance and Administration, NDDC, Chief Boma Iyaye noted that the President is interested in the development of Niger Delta region, hence the increment in the budgetary allocation accruing the region to aid infrastructural Development.
Chief Iyaye who asked the monarchs to assist Federal government to fight oil theft within their domains maintained that if oil production increases, the economy would be boosted.
On his part, Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, his Royal Majesty Sergent Awuse while applauding the present board for taking steps that would change the narrative, pledged the readiness of the traditional institution to work with NDDC.
In the same vein, the Amayanabo of Abonema, His Royal Majesty, King Disreal Bob-manuel while lamenting that sand filling projects in the locality have not been done, suggested that traditional rulers be informed about projects in their areas to enable them follow up.
