From Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday presided over the virtual commissioning of the 13 Floor Twin Tower Ultra Modern Headquarters Building of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Abuja.
President Buhari noted that the land was acquired by the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) in 1996, and was abandoned after a series of design amendments.
Buhari also urged the management of NDDC to commit the amounts used for renting operational offices to more rewarding benefits.
The President recalls how his administration has reformed the NDDC for greater service since assumption of office.
His statement reads, “In 2015, as part of our Administration’s cardinal objectives to kill corruption, some critical reforms were embarked upon, part of which was a holistic reform of the NDDC for greater service delivery for the people of the region.
“To achieve this, I reassigned the supervision of the NDDC to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs for administrative efficiency. Second, was the appointment of Forensic Auditors to review the operations of the Commission from inception to 2019 and to ensure that the appropriations made to the NDDC are commensurate with what is on the ground,’’ he said.
“I, therefore, use this opportunity to commend the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for providing the required leadership that saw to the completion of this edifice.
“Today, we are handing over to the people of Niger Delta, a befitting Head Office Complex for present and future use. Consequently, huge yearly rentals would now be saved and deployed to other areas of needs in the region.
“I commend the management and staff of the NDDC for staying the course and keying into the Reform Agenda of our Administration.
“I am particularly pleased to note the cordial relationship between the NDDC and the National Assembly and hope that this relationship will be strengthened further for the benefit of the people of the Niger Delta region,’’ the president added.
In his words, Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, State who spoke at the event thanked the president for the completion of the building, promising that the nine governors under the NDDC would continue to support his bold steps in development.
Also, In his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio noted that the completion of the NDDC building had signaled the president’s commitment to the development of the oil producing region.
