Stakeholder raises concern over NDDC’s neglect of coastal areas
The deplorable states and abandonment of the coastal areas by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have now been a large source of concern.
Olabamiji Mafimisebi, a stakeholder in the commission raised the concerns on Monday in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
Mafimisebi blamed the representatives of the commission who are mostly from the coastal areas of Ilaje and Ese Odo in Ondo state for the abandonment.
He expressed worries that despite the core mandates of establishing the NDDC and huge funds voted for developmental projects in the regions – its impact was not being felt by the people.
“The NDDC does not have any impact, positively: I cannot see their projects, water, transformers, even the water hyacinths projects they used to give the youths, are not forthcoming.
“What exactly is wrong? This country belongs to all of us and we all belong to this state, and Ilaje also belongs to us.
“There is no electricity in the four region in the South Senatorial District of the state and I am aware that NDDC shares transformers for rural electrification projects, where are these transformers”.
Mr. Mafimisebi decried some of the huge developmental projects between Ondo and Rivers States and also admonished stakeholders in the NDDC to seat up.
He also implored those planting the seed of discord among the various kingdoms: Ugbo, Mahin, Etikan and Ahaeri to discard their individual differences to unite as a people.
“Let us look for a way to unite ourselves and harmonize our resources for the development of our people. This is my pain, so that our children will not suffer in the nearest future.”
On the agitations for representation in the commission and the position of Managing Director to be zoned to the state, he said the vacuum has created a lot of hardship and deprivation to the state at large.
Mafimisebi, who hails from Mahin Kingdom, implored Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to prevail on the Federal Government to appoint a representative from the state to the commission, tasking the communities to nominate a credible candidate.
‘Tosin Ajuwon, Akure
