By Philip Ezuma, Port Harcourt
The Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh has inaugurated the 7.3-kilometre Oyigbo Road network, which traverses Obunku, Umuosi, Obeakpu, Mgboji, and Ndoki communities in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State. He also launched the reconstruction of the Mgboji-Umuagbu Akwete Road, linking Rivers, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Engr. Momoh said that the road projects were testimonies to the fact that NDDC was living up to its mandate to facilitate the rapid development of the Niger Delta region.
He noted that the NDDC last Saturday commissioned the reconstructed Abraka-Oben Road in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State and flagged off the Abraka-Agbor Road reconstruction.
The Minister commended the NDDC Board and Management for responding appropriately to the directives of President Bola Tinubu’s charge to deliver impactful projects in the Niger Delta region.
He declared: “Those who disagreed with me for defending the present board of NDDC now know better. The Commission must be allowed to work for Niger Deltans without being distracted by unwarranted calls for the board’s dissolution. The Ministry of Regional Development is against it because NDDC is doing well, which is in line with the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He said: “I thank the members of the National Assembly who have enabled the NDDC to operate efficiently. I urge them to continue to give the NDDC budgets the required attention to enable the Commission to fulfil its mandate.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the NDDC Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said that the completion of the road network was a reflection of the President Tinubu administration’s desire to transform the Niger Delta region.
He said that the reconstruction of the road had not only enhanced connectivity but also opened up new opportunities for economic growth and improved the quality of life of the people
The Chairman observed that the NDDC board and Management had received a new governance structure prepared by KPMG to ensure accountability and effective performance.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku,assured that the Commission would continue to positively impact the lives of the people of the region, adding that most of the projects embarked upon by the Commission were based on needs assessment.
