President Bola Tinubu has given the nod to the management of the Niger Delta Commission (NDDC) to borrow an additional N1 trillion to add to its N1.9 trillion 2024 budget to enable it to complete more projects and bring the desired development to the region.
The president gave the approval while speaking at the just concluded Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Recall that stakeholders from the region, including the National Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Sen. Ibok Essien, the founding fathers of NDDC, and Professor Jasper Jumbo, among others, had during the technical session of the summit held on Wednesday tasked President Tinubu to borrow money and fund developmental projects in the oil-rich region if necessary. They argued that the Federal Government is prone to borrowing money to fund several projects and programmes.
The Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, had on Monday presented a N1.9 trillion budget for the year 2024 to the House of Representatives Committee on the NDDC led by Erhiateke Ibori-Seun as Chairman.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who represented the president at the summit on Friday, said, “NDDC has never had the kind of budget they are having in 2024. The President has approved that they can go ahead and get a soft loan of N1 trillion to add to the budget to complete other projects they have in mind to bring development to the region.
“So, moving forward, NDDC is no longer going to be in lack of funds; it will now be the issue of commitment.
“Things have changed. We are no longer going to have people come from Abuja to come and collect NDDC money to go and spend in their various states. It will now be NDDC money for the Niger Delta region.”
The President also assured fast tracking and completion of the East-West road projects connecting Bayelsa to Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, among others.
He added that the region will also be connected with the Lagos-Calabar coastal road projects.
The President’s representative assured that the National Assembly will do everything possible to ensure that the East-West road is completed within the current administration.
He, however, blamed some stakeholders from the Ogoni axis of the road for impeding the progress of work in the area by insisting that the project be transferred from the Niger Delta Ministry to the Ministry of Works.
He added, “The National Assembly is very satisfied with the work the NDDC Managing Director is doing. We assure you that we will continue to support you to bring development in the Niger Delta.”
He urged the management to empower the people of the region through agriculture with less focus on oil production.
Also speaking at the summit, former President Goodluck Jonathan blamed Nigerian politicians for the slow impacts and progress of the NDDC on the people of the region.
Jonathan noted that the NDDC as an interventionist agency was birthed to bring development closer to the people, stating that NDDC was moving in a clearer leadership direction under Timi Alaibe, the then Managing Director of the commission.
But he regretted that the progress and activities of the commission slowed down immediately after politicians got involved and took over the NDDC.
Jonathan said that, though with the current leadership under Samuel Ogbuku as the Managing Director, the people in the Niger Delta are beginning to see some light again.
The former President, however, pleaded with Akpabio to urge other politicians to allow NDDC to deliver its mandate without interference.
“Politicians should not overstress NDDC to the detriment of the people,” said Jonathan.
“Akpabio is here, and he is the most senior politician in this summit, so I urge him to work with other politicians to ensure that the NDDC is not subjected to so much stress by politicians.”
He further urged the management of the commission to tackle issues of abandoned projects, invest in agriculture, and also work towards building a future that will function without relying on hydrocarbons.
Speaking also on behalf of former Governors from the South-South zone, Donald Duke urged the NDDC management not to yield to pressures by politicians but focus on activities and programs that will uplift the lives of the people.
On his part, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, called on President Bola Tinubu to fast-track works on the East-West road or allow the governors from the region to fix it.
Diri said, “Our region is in dire need of development, we are suffering. While we appreciate the president for the coastal road project, there is a need to complete the East-West road.”
“People sleep on that road due to its deplorable state; I spent four hours on a journey of less than one hour. If the contractor does not have the capacity, let the contract be given to NDDC.”
“I appeal to our own son, Akpabio, to tell the president of the urgent need to act on that road because our people are suffering.”
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