Umana Okon Umana, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, has advised the newly formed board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to strictly adhere to the provisions of the act that established it in the year 2000.
He went on to say that strict adherence to the act would help the board fully understand its roles and responsibilities, as well as keep it from deviating from the vision that inspired the commission.
In his opening remarks at a two-day retreat for new board members held on Friday at the Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort in Uyo under the theme “NDDC: Making a Difference,” the minister also charged them with adhering to the Public Procurement Act 2007 with diligence and transparency.
He stated: “I want you to focus on and interrogate on the following areas in order to enhance the effectiveness of the board. These areas include the Establishment Act of the NDDC 2000, the roles of management and board, the Public Procurement Act 2007 and all the extant laws applicable to public governance as well as any other issue about the performance of the board.”
While expressing hope that the new board would give the people of the Niger Delta a “new lease on life,” the Minister urged the board to establish a template that would help to make that a reality.
Earlier in his remarks, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, stated that “the board is expected to do something different in order to take the Niger Delta region to greater heights.”
Ogbuku stated that the new board has a template for a sustainable program for youths and all citizens in the region, and that the commission will work to establish partnerships with International Oil Companies (IOCs) and other stakeholders through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.
In his own words: “We will soon unfold our packages for the development of the region. The Niger Delta Development Commission Board is expected to make [a] great difference this time around.”
Meanwhile, the NDDC board paid a courtesy visit to the state’s governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, who charged the NDDC leadership with effectively supporting the Niger Delta region’s states in their development efforts, regretting that this had not been the case in the past.
In her response, the NDDC Board Chairman, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, stated that the commission was determined to work with the governors of the Niger Delta region to ensure that oil-producing states experienced sustainable development.
Onochie stated that the current NDDC Board intends to do things differently and will follow the Act that established the NDDC for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta.
