The Minister of the Ministry of Niger Affairs, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, has charged Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to explore collaborative partnership with other agencies has permitted by law as alternative sources of funding.
Senator Akpabio, gave the charge today when he paid a working visit to the Headquarters of NDDC, on 20th September, 2019 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Minister urged the Commission to imbibe the culture of adherence to due process, international best practices and commitment to the welfare of the real people of the Niger Delta region.
He also called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to drastically curtail its procurement activities by reducing the number of new projects and programmes, because, according to him “the ongoing 12 thousand projects by the Commission is facing funding challenges”.
The Minister said the Commission must put a mechanism in place to re-evaluate the variability of some of this projects and programmes, reverse the scope of some of them, relocate some and merge some and complete them immediately for the benefit of the people. Adding that this will ensure the variability and proper distribution among the states.
Akpabio, directed that the Commission must prioritise some signature projects in each states of the nine state of the Niger Delta, ensure regular funding, close monitoring and supervision that will bring about prompt delivery so as to have legacy projects in the Niger Delta. He said President Muhammadu Buhari, must commission legacy projects starting from next year.
Speaking further the Minister promised to put a mechanism in place to determine the actual liabilities of the Commission and the total numbers of ongoing projects and programmes. He also charged the Commission to ensure they move to their Headquarters next year.
Senator Akpabio called on the Commission to have a well-structured fund development regime and also charged them to motivate the staff so as to put in their best in projects monitoring and evaluation.
Earlier, the Acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Dr. Mrs. Enyia Akwagaga, disclosed that the Commission is driving a partnership to grow Agribusiness in the focal states of the Commission that will target about 10 local government areas in each state with International Fund for Agricultural Development, (IFAD).
She also said that the programme Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise Project in the Niger Delta, LIFE-ND is bringing about $129.2 Million to the table and that the huge amount will be invested in the collaboration which stands to boost food production and empower the vulnerable rural population to drive their own economy.
Mrs Enyia lamented that as an interventionist agency whose mandate is the development of the Niger Delta region, they are bothered that they have been cast in a certain negative stereotype where everybody sees NDDC funds as “our money”.
She assured the Minister, that the Commission will move to its Headquarters in June 2020.
