Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to give greater consideration to the State in its development plans, despite not being a major oil-producing State.
Governor Otu made the appeal when he received the Managing Director of the Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, and his management team, on a courtesy visit at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s office in Calabar.
The Governor emphasized that while Cross River may not produce oil in large volumes due to certain historical setbacks, the State remained an integral part of the Niger Delta and should not be excluded from critical development interventions.
He called for the intentional inclusion of Cross River’s specific needs in the NDDC’s work plan and stressed that the State’s peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for complacency.
The Governor also commended the Commission for ongoing projects in the State, and called for the recommencement and completion of the long-abandoned ones such as the Adiabo–Ikon–Eto road, the Ikom Medical Centre, and the Youth Centre in Akpabuyo.
MUST READ: NDDC decries disruption of projects commissioning in Calabar, warns against unhealthy politics
In his response, the NDDC Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, said the Commission was focused on transformational projects and sustainable governance, as he reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to completing legacy projects in Cross River State.
Ait. live quotes officials as stating that the visit marked a renewed effort to bridge communication gaps and deepen 5th development partnerships between Cross River State and the NDDC.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
