…Says NDDC Hqtrs ready for commissioning February Rolls out other completed projects
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has declared that notwithstanding the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry under his watch has achieved milestone by completing some ongoing projects in the region.
Senator Akpabio, who assumed duty in august 2019 at the ministry made the declarations while appraising the achievements of the Ministry and unveiling new plan aimed at driving development in the Niger Delta region as mandated by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The minister added that despite the obvious paucity of funds, the Ministry has worked assiduously well to ensure the completion of the 13 and 8-storey buildings housing the Headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, which according to him will be commissioned in February subject to Presidential approval.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Senator Akpabo said, “The ministry was undertaking pre-emptive steps rather than being reactive to development concerns in the Niger Delta region.
“Therefore, the Management considered plethora of issues bordering on the region, issues of development and underdevelopment, minimizing issues of corruption in NDDC, Ogoniland Clean-up, Peace and Security, completion of East-West road, encouraging Foreign Direct investment in the region.” The minister also emphasized on “Engaging Public Private Partnership, PPP, to complete some ongoing projects and alternatives source of funding.” According to the Minister, “The ministry at its first management meeting held on 11th January, 2021, took a review of our activities for 2020 by reassessing the projects and programmes that we have embarked on so far, based on our budgetary provision and also evolved a work plan for this year 2021 going forward, setting timelines for ourselves.”
“Therefore, the Management considered plethora of issues bordering on the region, issues of development and underdevelopment, minimizing issues of corruption in NDDC, Ogoni land Clean-up, Peace and Security, completion of East-West road, encouraging Foreign Direct investment in the region.” The minister also emphasized on “Engaging Public Private Partnership, PPP, to complete some ongoing projects and alternatives source of funding.” According to the Minister, “The ministry at its first management meeting held on 11th January, 2021, took a review of our activities for 2020 by reassessing the projects and programmes that we have embarked on so far, based on our budgetary provision and also evolved a work plan for this year 2021 going forward, setting timelines for ourselves.”
Source: vanguardngr.com
