President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the headquarters building of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, 25 years after the groundbreaking ceremony, commending the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for steadfastness in ending many years of renting by the commission, and the attendant profligacy.
The President, who virtually commissioned the building from the Council Chamber of the State House, said the land was acquired by the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission, OMPADEC, in 1996, and was abandoned after series of design amendments.
While commending the minister for ensuring the historic completion of the building, President Buhari in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity Femi Adesina, urged the management to commit the amounts used for renting to more rewarding benefits.
The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, thanked the President for the completion of the building, promising that the nine governors under the NDDC would continue to support his bold steps in development.
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In his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs noted that the completion of the NDDC building signals the President’s commitment to the development of the oil producing region, and ending of activities of corrupt public officials, who also negated the connection of the offices to national grid over many years in order to seek rent on fueling of generators.
Senator Akpabio urged leaders, traditional rulers and youths in the region to support President Buhari’s administration so that it would complete most of the abandoned projects by previous administrations, which include the Second Niger Bridge, warning that the persistent fights and petitions among leaders must be shelved for development.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
