By Olatunji Kehinde
The Interim Management Committee currently in charge of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has taken seriously the Presidential mandate as it embarks on visitation to rural communities in the Niger Delta oil producing areas. The people of Ohanku community in Ukwa East in Abia state South Eastern Nigeria recently played host to Dr. Joi Nunieh led IMC as the 46-Kilometers Ohanku-Aba Road project was subject under review as it has economic and social implications to the well-being of the oil bearing community.
The NDDC Acting Managing Director, Gbene Dr Joi Nunieh, who made the promise of completing the road construction while inspecting the Obohia-Ohanku-Aba Road stalled at Ndiegoro community, assured that the project would be tackled as a matter of urgency.
In the entourage of Dr. Joi Nunieh were a member of the House of Representatives Committee on NDDC, Hon Okezie Kalu; the NDDC Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang and other directors of the Commission.
While addressing the community at the venue of the inspection, NDDC Interim Management Committee Managing Director said that the Interim Management Committee of the Commission had the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari to take development to the rural communities, especially those in the oil-producing areas.
Nunieh described the situation at Ndiegoro as a disaster that called for an emergency intervention, stating that the densely populated community would be made to feel the impact of the Federal Government through the NDDC.
“We have to
get this road done quickly as an emergency, so that the people can get a
relief. That is why we are here to assess the situation and respond
appropriately to the concerns of the people, including the Abia State Governor,
Dr Okezie Ikpeazu. We are assuring the people that President Buhari cares for
the welfare of the less privileged people in the rural communities and we are
here on his instructions to make sure that the people benefit from development
projects” she said.
The NDDC boss said that the Commission was determined to get all communities in the Niger Delta, particularly the oil-producing areas, working again. “I want to assure the people of this area that they are part of Nigeria and that they have not committed any offence for having oil in their communities,” Nunieh said, adding that “the fact that they have oil in their area should confer some benefits on them in the sharing of national resources.”
Having seen the pathetic plight of the people of Ndiegoro she wondered how the people have been coping in situations of medical emergency, given that they were not likely to get help quickly because it would take two to three hours to get to the next city.
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The Abia state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu had during courtesy visit by the Interim Management Committee of NDDC told them that “the road is a major link to the commercial city of Aba and an alternative route to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.” And the visitation to the rural community availed the Interim Management Committee the raw overview of how best to developing Oil bearing communities as mandated by Mr. President.