Release N1.8tn withheld fund to NDDC, group urges Buhari

A nongovernmental organization, Network Advancement Programme for Poverty and Disaster Risks Reduction (NAPPDRR), has appealed to President Mohammadu Buihari to release the Niger Delta Development Commission’s withheld fund amounting to over N1.8 trillion.

The group’s president, Al Mustapher Emem Edoho, who made the appeal while speaking in Uyo at the weekend said “NDDC, as intervention agency has been short change to the staggering tune of over N1.8 trillion.

According to him the Agency’s contractual obligations or payment certificate remains unsettled for years while staff welfare entitlements could not be paid at when due and a many other obligations could not be met as result of the underfunding.

Edoho however appealed to President Buhari to strengthen the funding of the NDDC by releasing the withheld amount to enable it implement development programmes in the region and to further propel the transformation of the endangered and environmentally ravaged oil producing region.

He said, “Critical infrastructures like roads, schools, health facilities, agri-business development, transportation among others shall be massively accelerated and expanded if the fund is released.

The president however commended the new leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the Managing Director, Obong Nsima Ekere since his resumption of office, adding ‘’the agency has brought the Federal Government closer to the grassroots despite poor funding.

Edoho described the NDDC boss as “a humble and charismatic leader who has demonstrated uncanny skills and abilities to transform the Commission, laced with risks management and other associated problems.”

He said, “Obong Nsima Ekere is a tested, trusted and reliable public administrator. He confronts and reorganizes the governance structure of the commission in a holistic manner, to play a complementary role in the service delivery of the core mandate of the Commission. Stakeholders meetings are regularly convened to build a synergy and sustainable partnership with all sections of the Niger Delta.”
“Regular project monitoring and inspections have been strengthened by Nsima Ekere led Board to enhance quality service delivery and leverage organizational objectives. Contractors have returned to their various project sites,” he added.

The group president listed some life touching projects embarked upon by the NDDC under Ekere’s leadership to include Esit Eket Stadium project, Uquo, Ikpa street light projects among others all in Esit Eket local government area.

He also acknowledged the commission’s development strides in Eket urban ranging from rehabilitation of internal roads and other development projects.

Others according to him include drainage control in Esuene street in Uyo to check perennial flooding during rainy season in Uyo metropolis among other several street rehabilitation projects in the area currently handled by the commission, not minding the status of Uyo as a State Capital that deserve super attention by the State government.

The group president however frown at the low level of impact created by Governor Emmanuel’s administration in the state which he listed to include “failure to create a State oil producing area development commission (AKOMPADEC) to implement the state derivation law, 2009 as widely demanded by elders and chiefs of the oil producing communities in the state, failure to settle pension gratuity to retired primary school teachers and other retired civil servants in the state despite Paris Club refund to Akwa Ibom state.

Edoho tackled the state governor over low level of development in some local governments adding “one of the local government areas in the state that has not experienced any iota of development from the State government is Esit Eket where there is not even a box culvert to convince the masses that the governor is from the same federal constituency with them.

‘’It is rather sad and ugly tale, considering the quantum of votes the people of the area gave to the governor in the 2015 elections.”