The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the head of the Interim Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Effiong Akwa, have showcased the new edifice built by the commission which is billed to be commissioned virtually on Thursday 11th March 2021.
Senator Akpabio while briefing newsmen disclosed that the project that started in 1996 which could not be completed under different administration, was completed by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari and NDDC under his leadership as Supervising Minister.
Akpabio who attributed the completion of the project to his administration’s determination and focus, revealed that after he visited the construction site on his assumption of office,he briefed Mr. President on the need to ensure the building is completed in record time.
He asserted that President Buhari whom he said was determined to reposition the NDDC for quality service delivery to the people of the region, bought the idea which is a manifestation of what the press and the public is seeing.
Senator Akpabio stated that the completion of the edifice has saved the commission of over Three Hundred Million Naira which according to him, NDDC was paying to the landlord in the rented office at 167 Aba road, Port Harcourt.
The Minister urged the NDDC leadership to put robust maintenance structure in place to ensure proper maintenance of the building.
Akpabio who expressed satisfaction on the building, assured the NDDC management that he will forward the request to furnish the building to Mr President which was not part of the construction.
The Senator while assuring that NDDC will change positively after the forensic audit which will soon be completed, also hinted that the NDDC board will be inaugurated after the forensic audit.
He added that the overseas scholarship scheme of the Commission will be reviewed, saying there may not be need to send children abroad to study courses that are offered by good universities in Nigeria, except those courses which are not offered in any institution in Nigeria.
Senator Akpabio who maintained that things need to change regretted that in years of existence of NDDC no small scale industry was built by the Commission, neither were hospitals built that would have catered for people of the Niger Delta in this era of Covid -19.
In his remarks, the Interim Administrator and CEO of the NDDC, Mr. Effiong Akwa, said “the essence of this event is for journalists to see things themselves as seeing is believing “.
Mr. Akwa disclosed that the project which started in earnest soon after the Minister visited the site of construction and briefed the President, noted that the new edifice is a thing of joy and honour to the people of the region, and ascribed the completion of the building to the will and Integrity of Mr. President as well as the doggedness of Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Mr. Akwa also commended the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for providing the enabling environment for the completion of the project.
Expressing delight that no community issues were encountered by during the project construction, the NDDC boss also applauded the host community for their cooperation during the project construction.
The new NDDC complex which is located at Marine Base in Port Harcourt has a thirteen-story office building and other beautiful edifices with beautiful landscape.
