NDDC to adopt 3-Ts development approach to transform Niger Delta – Dr. Sam Ogbuku
By Dennis Udoma, Uyo
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Saturday ended it’s Board and Management Retreat in Akwa Ibom with a renewed mantra to transit from hitherto transaction approach to the transformation model of the region.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of NDDC, Dr. Sam Ogbuku disclosed the new philosophy of development of the oil rich delta he tagged, “3-Ts” describing the agency as a palliative to the people of the region.
Dr. Ogbuku, who spoke on the topic, “NDDC: The Journey So Far and the Road Ahead” mentioned that, though critics see nothing good about the establishment of the NDDC 25 years ago, affirmed that, the commission over had taken it’s core mandate of development of rural communities in the area very crucial to change the way of life of the people.
He said so far, NDDC has undertaken the construction of about 4,151 roads/bridges, 2,323 rural electrification projects, 1,723 building projects and 642 water projects in the Niger Delta etc.
In addition to the above, he stated that the agency also embarked on medical outreach programmes, post graduate programmes for top level manpower development to meet today and tomorrow’s needs, while concluding plans to embark on Project Hope to engage the youth population in transforming their lives.
He appealed to the federal government to consider the bulk release of funds to the NDDC as projects require radical approach to delivery, as well as remove NDDC from the Treasury Single Account financial framework (TSA) to enable it achieve optimal performance and efficiency.
On his part, the Minister for Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has called on the commission to intensify engagements between its stakeholders and the NDDC in order to achieve sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.
He gave the charge in his keynote address during a two-day retreat of the Niger Delta Development Commission tagged, ‘Renewed Hope: A New Era for Vitality, Peace and Development,’ held at four points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State on Friday disclosing that, the collaboration was necessary for the goal of NDDC and the ministry to be achieved.
According to him, “The harmonisation of the existing development plans in the Niger Delta region was one of the ten deliverables the president gave to the ministry for implementation between 2024 and 2027.
“NDDC must insist on the delivery of quality jobs so that the Niger Delta region will get value for money expended on development projects.”
He explained that though the importance of principles enshrined in the TSA policy such as transparency and accountability, however, such a financial framework has weighty limitations for the interventionist agency.
“We are not just building roads and bridges. We are stitching together a vibrant tapestry of development, from healthcare and education to skills development and job creation.
Meanwhile, The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has called for collaboration between the Niger Delta Development Commission and the state governments in the region for better service delivery in line with the core mandates of the Commission.
The Governor represented by his deputy, Senator Akon Eyakayin said he was confident that the new board will uphold its mandate and core responsibilities as an interventionist agency for the development of the Niger Delta region, urging the team not to subvert its mandate for political reasons.
He promised to collaborate with the Commission for the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state while charging the management on involvement of the state government in its interventionist programmes based on needs assessment to avoid replication of projects.
