NDDC HAS DONATED SIX WASTE DISPOSAL TRUCKS TO THE RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC belonged to the entire people of the Niger Delta Region, hence it is not the birthright of any ethnic group in the region.

Consequently, he has called for a stop to any form of protest against the appointment of any Niger Delta son or daughter from any particular ethic group by those who felt the commission belonged to them and it was their birth right to always head the commission.

Governor Wike was speaking when members of the Interim Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission, led by the Interim Administrator and Chief Executive Officer, Effiong Okon Akwa paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Governor noted that anybody from the Niger Delta Region can head the commission and warned against any form of blockade of the commission by miscreants to disrupt economic activities in the state.

Noting that the founding fathers of the Region envisioned the NDDC to be a commission for the development of the region, Governor Wike said it was unfortunate that the dreams of the founding fathers had not been achieved, rather the commission had turned to a cash cow for politicians.                                                                

The Governor however, lauded the Interim Administrator of the NDDC for recognizing the importance of partnership with the state government for the development of the region, emphasizing that such partnership will promote development and stop friction between government and the commission in terms of project execution.

He also urged him to remain resolute and ensure that he reached out to the various State Governors in the Niger Delta Region in order to attract support from them for the overall development of the region.

Governor Wike lauded the Interim Administration of the NDDC for the completion of their Permanent Head Office, but urged them to put the office provided for them by the state government in proper shape before relocating to their new office.

                                                                                         

Earlier, the Interim Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, Effiong Okon Akwa who noted that the visit was the first to any Governor of the Niger Delta state, expressed the hope that the visit would bring about new and great collaboration between the NDDC and the state government in ensuring quick and sustainable delivery of projects and programmes that would greatly benefit the people of the state in particular and the region in general.

Akwa urged the Governor to identify projects the NDDC can partner with the state government for the benefit of Rivers people and lauded him for the landmark infrastructural development in the state.

He used the forum to intimate the Governor on the completion of the new Permanent Head Office of the NDDC and its proposed inauguration on the 25^th of this month by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Government House Reporter, Ibim Walson Asako reports that highpoint of the visit was the commissioning of six waste disposal trucks donated to the state government by NDDC as part of its corporate social responsibility to assist government efforts in ensuring the cleanliness of the state by Governor Wike.