.charges PMB to confirm current leaders
Those attacking the current management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), under the leadership of Professor Nelson Brambaifa, are enemies of the progress and development of the oil-rich region.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South region, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who made the assertion in statement circulated to the media in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, also described the consistent attack on the works so far done by the NDDC under Prof Brambaifa’s watch as a wicked act of malice, adding that the barrage of concocted and falsified petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), targeted at the commission’s management, were all against the interest of the people of the region.
Eze further revealed that those behind the concerted attacks, whom he described as selfish politicians, who have devoted themselves to weakening the image and reach of the APC in the South-South region of the country, are also intended on ridiculing and destroying the image of the members of the Brambaifa-led management team so that it will not be confirmed as substantive management by President Muhammadu Buhari and get their own candidates to replace the current management, all with the intention of using the commission as springboard in their 2023 political ambition but sadly for them their plot failed abysmally before it was hatched.
He, however, expressed happiness that the Brambaifa-led management team had been able to provide answers to most of the fabricated documents being circulated and recycled in the social media by the data boys of these politicians, adding that the facts so far provided by the commission had gone a long way to expose the evil intents of the sponsors of the falsehood, depicted them as the enemies of the region that they are and revealed the steady progress so far achieved by the present NDDC management team.
He queried the rationale of the petitioners in their attacks and campaign of calumny, noting that the commission in the last five years had not received as much as N750 billion, saying “so to accuse the present management of sharing the sum of N750 billion within three months is completely mischievous and orchestrated falsehood, aimed at tarnishing the image of the present management. The petitioners have only succeeded to expose themselves as ignorant of the operations of an agency like the NDDC”.
He went on to highlight the vision and mission of the NDDC, which was established in 2000, as an agency set up to facilitate the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.
He added that the commission is expected to conceptualise, plan and implement, in accordance with set rules and regulations, of projects and programs for sustainable development of the Niger Delta area in the field of transportation including roads, jetties and waterways, health, employment, industrialization, agriculture and fisheries, housing and urban development, water supply, electricity and telecommunications.
To establish facts that the commission, under the Brambaifa-led management team, had met its mandate and is living within the mission and vision of the NDDC, as set out in the Act of its establishment, Eze outline a few of the several marks of the team’s achievements within the few months of its existence. Some of the projects include:
1. Emergency repairs of failed sections of Fimie/Tera-Ama and Church Road in Port Harcourt LGA
2. Emergency repairs of failed and unmotorable sections of gospel mission road , gate 31 off odaranwere NTA mgbuoba and environs.
3. Emergency repairs of failed sections of Reclamation and Macoba Roads in Port Harcourt LGA
4. Prompt payments of the Commission’s Contractors to achieve timely completion of the projects embarked upon by the Commission
5. Revived the Naval Shipyard Limited and the Admiralty China Shipbuilding and Offshore International limited in Port Harcourt through completion of the 2.6 kilometre road which was completed in a record time of 46 days linking four major communities and seven smaller communities, with about fifty thousand people living or doing business there.
One other facility that benefited immensely from this road is the Port Harcourt Boat Club which was virtually moribund during the period the road was in bad shape. Now, the road will bring back business to the club.
6. In Abuloma area of Port Harcourt, the Fimie/Church Road is now wearing a new look and residents, as well as road users in the neighborhood are jubilating. The 1.3 kilometre road serves Ukukalama, Somieri and Fimie-Ama communities.
7. The NDDC equally constructed Doxa Avenue, Off Dr. Peter Odili Road in Trans-Amadi area of Port Harcourt. The road project which has flexible pavement with reinforced concrete drains connects Peter Odili road with Abuloma road. The completion of the project has engendered development and improved socio-economic activities within Doxa Avenue and its environs.
8. In the Ogoni area of Rivers State, residents of Nyogor, Lueku, Agbani and Wiikue in Khana Local government, have every reason to be grateful to the management of NDDC for the construction of a 5.6km road crisscrossing the four communities.
9. In Khana LGA, the NDDC undertook the construction of the four kilometre Beeri Road with drains and two culverts. The strategic road connects three rural communities in Ogoniland, namely; Yonbe, Luegbo and Beeri. The main occupation of the inhabitants of these communities is agriculture and by the achievement of this milestone, the farmers can easily evacuate their agricultural produce to the urban areas.
10. The Nigerian Police Force also benefitted from NDDC projects through the restoration of the Police Barracks and Officers’ Quarters in Borikiri, Rivers State. The project was designed to provide a more conducive living environment for families resident in the barracks.
11. Provision of the over-head storage tanks for water, the fencing of the building which was previously awarded by the police force, but NDDC completed it and even provided over-head tanks for water which this block did not have before.
12. Renovated building of 27 flats on each side of the twin building and a functional laundry facility also.
13. Completion of the N24 Billion Ogbia-Nembe Road in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC. This was a road that was abandoned all these years but completed by this administration to making life easier for residents of the area
(14). Payment for Water Hyacinth that use to be the exclusive preserve of some demi gods have been paid to ordinary youths. The same Water Hyacinth project the previous administration did not even bother to engage any contractor for yet heaven did not fall
(15). Fully automated medical Ambulance and important medical equipment worth millions of naira were delivered to the Ondo State Government to help them combat Lassa fever and other medical emergencies.
(16). In Rivers State, the dilapidated road leading to the Naval Dockyard was started and completed in record time,
(17). In Cross Rivers, Akwa/Ibom, Delta, Edo, Abia and Imo States this management has made very positive impacts within the shortest possible time.
Having highlighted the achievements of the Prof Brambaifa-led management team, Eze pleaded with President Buhari to confirm the team, saying “it stands as the best team of the NDDC in terms of works and politics because their presence are felt in all sections of the Niger Delta region. The fact remains that the present management team is comprised of diligent and principled professionals, they need to be encouraged and motivated to achieve more for the region”.
He also urged the EFCC to ignore the mischievous groups who meant no good for the emancipation and development of the Niger Delta region. As the commission through it directorate of corporate affairs has denied the allegations besides based on the existing financial regulations it is not possible for anyone to withdraw N2.8 billion in a day.”
