The names of the individuals who will make up the Niger Delta Development Commission’s governing board have been handed to the Senate for confirmation (NDDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
On Thursday, Umana Umana, the Minister of Niger Delta affairs, said this while af Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for a working visit.
The NDDC headquarters is in Port Harcourt.
“I am happy to state that some of the serious pending issues, like the absence of the NDDC Board, have also been addressed. And as we speak, Mr. President has transmitted the names of members of the Board to the Senate,” The Nation quoted Mr Umana as saying, when he visited the Ahoada axis of the East-West Road, which has been washed off by flood.
Mr Umana was accompanied by the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, other officials of the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The minister said the Senate, on its resumption, would act on the president’s nomination for the NDDC board.
“Some of the impending matters that impeded the performance of the commission have been dealt with. I have presidential approval for the transmission of the 2021/2022 budget of the Commission.
“I also have presidential approval that recovered funds be released. The President directed that those funds should be used to fund core infrastructural projects in the region,” he added.
For the damaged portion of the East-West Road, the minister directed the NDDC to mobilise the contractor to begin work on it so as to make it passable.
“What I have seen here in Ahoada, I am directing the NDDC to intervene immediately. They are already making arrangements to bring in SETRACO to assess what needs to be done on the road so that the road can become accessible again”.
Mr Umana, who expressed shock on the impact of flood, said Bayelsa State has been cut off from Rivers.
He said the federal government was using a “concerted approach” to tackle the flood which has ravaged several states in the country.
“The Federal Government is handling this through a concerted approach, which will involve many agencies of government, including the military personnel, who are now helping by using helicopters to get to sites that are not accessible.”
It was reported that the minister directed NDDC to provide relief materials to residents in the region who have been displaced by flood.
“When we talk about relief, it is a whole package. The relief will come in various forms, materials, health support, women and children, among others,” he said.
The minister later visited the NDDC headquarters, where he told the workers that the commission would be repositioned in line with President Buhari’s expectation.
“I have informed the management and staff that moving forward we expect things to be done differently so that we can have value for the main purpose of the commission.
“We have emphasised the need for full compliance with the provisions of the Procurement Act. The lack of adherence to the Procurement Act led to some of the excesses.
“Imagine a situation where one man will award contracts with no reference to the tender board of the commission or the tender committee of Federal Executive Council.
“I have made it clear that it will no longer be tolerated, those who indulge in contract meeting and award contract without due process will be held accountable.
“I have been assured by management that indeed there will be commitment, things will change. It is a new era and a new day for the commission,” the minister said.