NDDC Will Emphasize Regional Development – Ojougboh

The Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has re-stated its resolve to pay more attention to regional projects as mapped out in the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan.

The NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, said this during a solidarity visit by a prominent Niger Delta Elder and a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, at the Commission’s permanent headquarters in Port Harcourt.

Ojougboh stressed that the NDDC was taking the issue of regional projects in the 2020 budget very seriously, stating: “We want the Niger Delta to look like Dubai.”

He said further: “The biggest problem of the NDDC is the historic debts that the Commission has been saddled with. But we are doing everything possible to see that those projects that can be verified will be paid for, while those that cannot be verified will be left for forensic auditors. Essentially, before any payments are made, the forensic auditors will have to certify, making sure that mistakes are not made.”

“It has been a huge success story, when we started, nobody believed that we could get to where we are today. But with God, it has been possible for us to be doing what we are doing here.”

Ojougboh commended Olorogun O’tega Emerhor for identifying with the IMC in spite of attempts by some people to tarnish the image of the team. “You have come to show solidarity, and for that we are very happy to have you here,” he said.

In his remarks, O’tega Emerhor observed that it had not been the best of times for the NDDC, noting that despite the rough times, the Commission had a success story to tell with the almost completed 13-floor new headquarters building.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing members of IMC, whom he noted were all from the Niger Delta region.

Emerhor affirmed: “The President has the prerogative to appoint anyone into a position of authority and at this time he has appointed the team. So, they have to do the work because the work needs to be done. I call on everybody to support the IMC and work with them so that the Niger Delta can be developed.

“Everybody cannot be Managing Director Executive Director at the same time. They are appointed for a specific period, the best we can do for those of us who are not here at this time is to support them to succeed.”