Why NDDC fails to achieve its core mandate – Aseimiegha

 By Majesty Inegbagha

The inability of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to achieve its core mandate since its establishment over twenty years ago has been blamed on endemic corruption, lack of focus, uncoordinated project implementation, institutional constrains and high overhead costs among others. 

Mr. Orusakwe Aseimiegha, the Special Assistant on Youth Matters to the Sole Administrator/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), addressing the press at NUJ Press Centre, Yenagoa.

 Mr. Orusakwe Aseimiegha, the Special Assistant on Youth Matters to the Sole Administrator/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), disclosed this, on Thursday while addressing Journalists at NUJ Press Centre, Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa state.

He pointed out that the commission was set up to address the perceived neglect and the under development of the Niger Delta region which was as a result of the peoples struggle against aged-long marginalization, social injustice and the environmental degradation occasioned by unrestrained oil pollution and incessant gas flaring where notable personalities paid the supreme sacrifice to bring social justice to the people. 

Members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm present at the event.

 According to him the commencement of the forensic audit exercise to audit the finances and projects of the commission, was designed to examine and provide answer, as well as creating a frame work for reversing the failures recorded in the past in order to recover those resources recoverable, plug the gaps and stop the waste that is keeping the region under developed.

He said, the appointment of Pastor (Barrister) Effiong Akwa, whom he described as an accomplished lawyer, seasoned administrator and a financial expert to oversee the affairs of the commission as a welcome development.

This, he believed that with the mandate given him to supervising the implementation of the forensic audit exercise, he will reposition the commission and make it more functional and responsive to the yearnings and the aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta.

He said the present administration of NDDC led by Pastor Effiong Akwa has adopted an all-inclusive system of budgeting where projects are earmarked through collaborative efforts with affected community, before including them in the budgeting process.

This, he said, against the top-bottom approach of earmarking resources and projects without the direct inputs from the key stakeholders to be affected by the project as was earlier practiced that led to the failure of the commission.

 Aseigmiegha stated emphatically that the forensic audit exercise was not to witch hunt anybody but is a demonstration of the federal government love for the people of the Niger Delta.

He added that in furtherance of this, the APC led federal government of President Muhammadu Buhari through the instrumentality of the leader of APC in Bayelsa state, Chief Timipre Sylva, Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has attracted landmark development projects into the state to expand the industrial and commercial frontiers of the state economy.

The projects, he said include the Brass Fertilizer at Odioma, the LNG Project at Twon Brass, the 10 Megawatts Gas-Fired Independent Plant at Elebele, the Rungas LPG Composite Cylinder Manufacturing plant at Polaku, the Industrial Park at Emeyal Ogbia, the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum, the 45,000 Liter Per Day Lube Oil blending plant at Gbaraun, the Dry Dock Ship Yard in Brass, the Coastal Heavy Product Depot and other laudable initiatives in the state, adding to the recent commissioned local content tower to attract the headquarters of most multinational oil companies into the state.

Noting that peace is the pre-requisite for development, he pointed out that the aforementioned projects could only be accomplished in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

He therefore used the forum to call on the youths of the Niger Delta region to give peace a chance and allow the inflow of uncommon transformations in the state and the region.

Aseimiegha also pleaded with the media, Youth Groups, Organized Labour and Civil Society Organizations among others, to support the efforts of the Sole Administrator to reposition the NDDC for effective service delivery to enable the government serve the people better.

He said the press briefing is part of the activities of his familiarization tour of youths in the Niger Delta region, particularly Bayelsa state.