By Enaibo Asiayei
The Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Professor Nelson Brambaifa, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for demonstrating an enduring love for the Niger Delta region.
The new Chief Executive Officer of the interventionist agency, who spoke during the inaugural meeting of the new management at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, noted that the Federal Government had “indeed begun refunding over N1.3 Trillion owed the Commission since inception.”
Prof. Brambaifa, whose appointment was announced on Friday, January 25, 2019, alongside that of the Acting Executive Director Finance and Administration, Mr Chris Amadi and the Acting Executive Director projects, Engr. Dr Samuel Adjogbe, said the new management team was a response to the growing unhappiness in the Niger Delta region over government’s commitment to developing the region and improving the living conditions of the people.
The Acting Managing Director said that Niger Delta had suffered enough and President Buhari recognised this and had taken prompt action to redress the situation and reassure the people on government’s commitment to their welfare.
Prof. Brambaifa reiterated that President Buhari, had for the first time since the establishment of the NDDC, ensured that the Federal Government started to meet its statutory financial obligations to the Commission in full.
He said that President Buhari also ensured that all other statutory contributors to the funding of NDDC met their obligations, noting that the President also worked to restore peace and security in the region by tackling all grievances of the people.
The new NDDC boss said that the appointment of the management team was another step in the effort to offer hope to the Niger Delta people and restore their confidence and faith that he would take decisive action to rebuild the region.
Prof. Brambaifa pledged to do everything necessary to respect and implement the mandate of the Commission, “which is to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta, into a region that is socially stable, economically prosperous, politically peaceful and ecologically regenerative.”
He stated that it was necessary to start work immediately, stating: “The task of developing the Niger Delta is too important to be toyed with, and too compelling to waste time on.”
He urged all stakeholders in the Niger Delta to “join hands with members of the new executive management to ensure a smooth transition, as well as contribute to the immediate delivery of Mr President’s mandate.”
Also addressing staff of the NDDC, Prof Brambaifa urged them to embrace teamwork. He declared: “I will change NDDC and take it to the next level.”
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