Rivers Governor, Chief Nyeson Wike, has endorsed the newly inaugurated Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC).

Wike spoke at the Government House, Port Harcourt during a courtesy visit by members of NDDC’s new management, led by the Acting Managing Director, Dr. Joi Nunieh.

The NDDC chief was accompanied by the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang; the Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, and other directors of the commission.

Wike congratulated members of the interim management committee, stating: “As a true Rivers person, I cannot do anything that is against the interest of Rivers State.

“Political affiliations come secondary. What matters to me is the development of Rivers State.

“The Members of the Interim Management Committee are all from the Niger Delta region. So, why can’t we support them?

“The governors of the Niger Delta States met with President Muhammadu Buhari. We told him that there must be a surgical operation in NDDC. So, we support the forensic audit as ordered by the President.”

Rivers governor also stated that the fight over political appointments by Niger Delta people was unnecessary, noting that what the people needed was development.

He said: “I feel ashamed that our people cannot come together and agree on development strategies.

“The appointment of the Interim Management Committee is purely an executive function.

“There is no reason for our people to be fighting over it. I will protect anything that has to do with Rivers State.

“I will not support anybody asking that the Interim Management Committee be removed.

“If you have the capacity and the political will, you can right the wrongs in the NDDC.

“I urge you to use this opportunity given to you to put NDDC on the right track.”

Wike also stated that the founding fathers of NDDC had lofty goals for the development of the Niger Delta but regretted that the commission was yet to achieve the set objectives.

Rivers governor charged the management of the Federal Government’s interventionist agency to embark on legacy project in the region in partnership with state governments.

NDDC acting managing director told Wike that the new management of NDDC was determined to partner with the governors of the Niger Delta.

She said: “We want to assure you that the interim management will work with you and plead that you let go of what happened in the past, to ensure that we work harmoniously in the interest of the Niger Delta people.”

Nunieh also pleaded with the Rivers governor to encourage collaboration between NDDC and his administration.

She said: “We have just inspected one of our warehouses and we found two medical boats that were meant for communities in Rivers State. They are waiting to be collected by the state government.”

The NDDC chief also stressed that the commission would like to work with the medical team in the Rivers state’s ministry of health to manage the primary health centres in the rural communities and give the rural people access to medical services.

The acting managing director told Wike that NDDC had built comprehensive health centres at Eneka in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers but regretted that it was illegally occupied and vandalised.

Nunieh added that similar fate also befell other cottage hospitals built by the NDDC in Eleme and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of the state.

https://thenationonlineng.net/wike-endorses-nddcs-interim-management-committee/

Chor Chor

Wike