President Muhammadu Buhari wants the Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning to work with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to reconcile all outstanding statutory obligations due the Commission and agree on an immediate payment plan.
Managing Director of the NDDC, Nsima Ekere, disclosed this when the executive members of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, visited the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, July 11.
Ekere, who commended the traditional rulers for their continued support for the Commission, said President Buhari gave the directive before his trip to London.
He stated: “I think TROMPCON should commend Mr. President for this remarkable decision. The Federal Government had been owing NDDC cumulatively since inception and for the first time this is being addressed.
“The Federal Government had not met its contributions and we went to the President and drew his attention to that fact. I am happy to inform you that President Buhari immediately directed the Minister of Finance, the Budget Office and the National Planning Commission to meet with NDDC, compare figures and agree on a payment plan.”
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer asked the royal fathers to pray for the quick recovery of President Buhari, noting that they represented the traditional conscience of the region.
He declared: “TROMPCON is the soul of Niger Delta region.”
Ekere acknowledged the key roles played by the royal fathers in ensuring peace in the Niger Delta. “I recognize your role in fostering peace in the region. You are very important stakeholders and I acknowledge your support for the NDDC,” he said.
He urged them to continue to sensitize their subjects, especially the young ones, and “warn then against oil theft, vandalism, piracy and all other acts that could cause a breach of peace and bring insecurity in the region.”
He added: “If there is no peace in the region, investors will be scared away. This is very important, more so now with dwindling oil prices in the international market.”
Ekere urged them to build a strong alliance and network with the security agencies, as well as assist in monitoring NDDC projects in their various domains, pledging the Commission’s continued support for TROMPCON.
The Chairman of TROMPCON, Eze Akuwueze Ikegwuruka, stated that the traditional rulers and NDDC had enjoyed a cordial relationship that yielded a lot of dividends.
He cited the role played by the traditional rulers in the birth of the Partnership for Sustainable Development (PSD) Forum, which he noted had encouraged stakeholders’ participation in developing the Niger Delta.
Eze Ikegwuruka said that TROMPCON had from inception played critical roles in ensuring peace and security in the various communities in the region.
Meanwhile, Ekere has assured the Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro of the Commission’s determination to assist the school with the provision of basic infrastructure such as roads and hostel accommodation.
Speaking on behalf of the Managing Director, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Executive Director Projects, Samuel Adjogbe, told the visiting members of the Governing Council, led by the Chairman, Funkekeme Solomon and the Rector, Prof. Job Akpodiete, that the Commission was making efforts to complete all on-gong projects.
He said the Commission will also embark on new ones, such as the construction of hostel accommodation and other infrastructure to enable students learn under a conducive atmosphere.
According to Adjogbe, NDDC was determined to do things differently by taking very hard decisions. He added: “We will no longer allow people to hide NDDC money in their pockets without delivering on projects. We are doing this to reposition the Commission.”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Ozoro Polytechnic Governing Council called on NDDC to prevail on the contractors handling the three major projects in the school, such as the 2-storey ICT Building, twin lecture theatre and one-kilometre road, at various stages of completion to return to site and complete them as the contractors had long abandoned sites.
In another development, representatives of major oil bearing communities of Owevwe, Opherin, Gana, Otokutu, Saniko, Agbaide and Ughere in Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area, led by Comrade Ikpere Clement who were in the Commission to protest the deplorable condition of a road project abandoned in their communities, were received by the EDP on behalf of the NDDC MD/CEO.
Commending them for not taking the laws into their hands by shutting down the oil flow stations, Engr. Adjogbe assured the group that the Commission would prevail on the contractor to do everything possible to return to site as quickly as possible to ameliorate the suffering of the people and boost the economy potentials of the various communities.
Buhari Seeks Reconciliation Of FG’s Payment Obligation To NDDC
