Reducing regional insecurity is a primary responsibility of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as it has stressed time and time again.
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This was announced on Monday in Asaba during a press briefing to commemorate the commission’s quarter-century anniversary by Chief Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC Managing Director. He went on to say that one tactic used by NDDC is to light up neighbourhoods, especially with solar-powered street lights, in order to discourage criminal activity.
He insisted that “the Commission is installing electricity in the communities, especially solar lights to brighten the areas to frustrate criminals from carrying out deadly activities.”
Furthermore, illuminating neighbourhoods not only deters criminal activity but also encourages local trade, which is especially beneficial for low-income vendors who depend on longer selling hours to provide for their families, he said.
The gloom is more appealing to criminals than light, and they despise places that are bright. The positives outweigh the downsides, and that’s before even considering the fact that power facilitates progress. He promised that they would continue to be a source of light.
Ogbuku emphasised that NDDC will finish abandoned legacy projects to guarantee that all investments made in the past are fully achieved when discussing project execution.
Several important projects are still unfinished, he said, and to finish them, the Commission has partnered with other intervention organisations.
In addition, he disclosed that the NDDC is in talks with contractors to finish the abandoned projects or hand them over to the Commission to continue.
“In order to avoid litigation, the Commission cannot just sack the contractors for non-performance because there is a contractual agreement and the Procurement Act to consider,” he explained.
When asked about the involvement of stakeholders, Ogbuku acknowledged that the international oil firms (IOCs) had been unhappy at first, believing the Commission was ignoring projects in their areas of operation. Nevertheless, he did mention that the IOCs are now part of the NDDC’s budget committee, so they can suggest and rank projects in their home towns.
Projects in their respective areas of operation are now being released. As a result of the changes they have noticed, they are now working together. In addition to other states, NDDC and NLNG are working together on projects in Edo and Ondo.
We have already begun planning the bridges’ construction in conjunction with Chevron and the government of Delta State. Five times now, we and the government of Delta State have discussed potential areas of cooperation for growth.
They have earned our trust at this point. They are now making more contributions. “The Commission has also seen an increase in funding from the federal government,” he said.
The principal objective of the gathering, according to Barrister Chiedu Ebie, chairman of the governing board, was to meet with important stakeholders and to consider the commission’s progress over the last quarter of a century.
We would rather not breach the trust that has been placed in us than execute the task dishonestly. “We are grateful that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has recognised our qualifications for the position,” Ebie said.