Umana tasks NDDC Board on new development plan for Niger Delta
By Peter Usman://
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana OKon Umana, has enjoined the newly inaugurated board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to key into a new template of development adopted by the Federal Government that would reposition the agency for effective and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
The Minister made the demand during the inauguration of the board of the NDDC held recently in Abuja.
According to him, the board is expected to faithfully implement the recommendations of the report of the forensic audit and look into the allegations of employment irregularities in the NDDC from 2019 as alleged in numerous petitions to government.
Umana stated that the board members who are to carry out their activities under the supervision of the ministry are expected to key into the development design of the ministry which is centred on core infrastructure projects with the ultimate goal of transforming the Niger Delta region into a regional economic hub, noting that “the inauguration of the board of NDDC today marks a major step in this new policy direction”.
Umana said “we have been implementing the change we desire in the various policy options that we have taken right from the beginning of my assumption of office,” adding that under his leadership the ministry’s priority “is to install the governance ethos that emphasizes transparency and accountability.”
He stated that “the new policy thrust of the Ministry and the NDDC is to collaborate rather than compete with the state governments in the Niger Delta region and partner critical stakeholders to create more opportunities to expand intervention in health, education, security and build more capacity to diversify the range of economic activities that would support livelihoods and guarantee a better standard of living for the people in the region.”
Minister of State, MNDA, Sharon Ikpeazor urged the board members to take advantage of the opportunity to impact positively on the lives of the people and ensure that the narrative of the NDDC would change to the one in which “transparency, integrity and due diligence would be associated with the NDDC.”
The new Chairman of the board of the Commission, Ms. Lauretta Onochie, expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the opportunity to serve as board members of the NDDC. She pledged to use their tenure to bring about an era in the region when violence would be curbed violence and ecological problems reduced.
Members of the board are Ms. Lauretta Onochie as Board Chairman; Chief Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director; Charles Ogunmola, Executive Director Project; Major-General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), Executive Director Finance & Administration; and representatives from the region in line with the law setting up the Commission are Dimgba Erugba, Dr Emem Willcox Wills, Elder Denyanbofa Dimaro, Orok Duke and Dr Pius Odudu.
Also on the board are Anthony Ekenne, Gbenga Edema, Elekwachi Dimkpa, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Abubakar, representing (North-Cenral zone), Alhaji Sadiq Sami Sule-Ikoh (North-West) and Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, (North-East).
