By Kehinde Phillips
The new Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei has assured that the Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the Commission will work with all stakeholders, including youths, to fast track the development of the Niger Delta region.
Prof Pondei, who was accompanied by the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang and the Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, addressed Niger Delta youths that paid a solidarity visit to the IMC at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The new NDDC helmsman said that the new team would ensure that the resources of the region were put it into good use, not only for projects, but also for the empowerment the people, including the youths and women.
Prof Pondei said: “We must go back to time-tested activities like agriculture. We have left agriculture behind and other people are now coming to Niger Delta to farm and fish for us. Going forward, the NDDC is going to put more efforts to make sure that people who are going into agriculture and any form of businesses are empowered and given the opportunity to succeed.”
He stressed the need for peace in the region as that was a sure way of encouraging development, adding: “You must organize yourselves and be ready to work hard. President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is not happy about some of the activities of youths in the region. I want to encourage all of you to organize yourselves and be ready to work together.
“We want to make sure that development trickles down to every community in the Niger Delta. For that to happen, we need to work together. I urge you to sit up and share ideas with us on ways we can do things differently.”
The NDDC boss charged the youths to pay more attention to modern farming, stating that the potential for growth and development in that area was enormous.
He said: “Let us come together to ensure that NDDC is known for progress. We want a situation where in the next ten years, you will be proud to say that you are from the Niger Delta. So, let us stop all these fighting and other social vices because we are the ones killing ourselves. Let us try to do things differently.”
One of the Youth Leaders, General Ocean, thanked President Buhari and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akoabio, for listening to their cries for rapid development of the Niger Delta region.
He said that Niger Delta youths were solidly behind the NDDC Interim Management Committee, stating that the youths would join in the effort to take development to the rural communities.