President Tinubu Approves N1tn Loan for NDDC, Cites Urgency for Niger Delta Development.

President Bola Tinubu has given approval to the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to borrow an additional N1 trillion to the N1.9 billion budget, to enable it establish and complete other projects in order to fastrack development in the Niger Delta region.

This came as the former President Goodluck Jonathan has accused politicians of meddling with the commission affairs, resulting in the delay of projects’ delivery in the years past.

President Tinubu who disclosed this in his address as chief guest of honour at the 2024 Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said that he has passion for the development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Represented by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu stated that the commission has never had the kind of budget that they are having in 2024, commending the management of the NDDC led by the Chairman, Chiedu Ebie and Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, for their exceptional performance in the development of the region.

It would be recalled that during the technical session of the summit on Wednesday, stakeholders from the region pleaded with the President to allow the NDDC’s management loan funds to fastrack development in the region.

Speaking on the appeal and request by the Governor of Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri, at the summit President Tinubu said with the current approval on the soft loan, the NDDC’s management will no longer give reason for delay of completion of projects or underdevelopment of the region.

He further assured that the Lagos -Calabar Coastal Road project will now start simultaneously from both in Lagos and Niger Delta region, adding that the East-West Road linking Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states will also have immediate attention.

“Even the N75 billion that we secured could not be used. Am saying it is the Niger Delta that sometimes brings down Niger Delta.

“We here the National Assembly members are very satisfied with the work you (NDDC) are doing and with the kind of cooperation the management and the board are having in the Niger Delta Development Commission, ours is to assure you that we will continue to support you to bring development to the Niger Delta region,”Akpabio added.

Earlier in his goodwill message, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Diri, appealed that as the construction of Lagos-Calabar highway is commencing from Lagos State, it should also commence from the Calabar axis.

Diri said, “Our region is in dire need of development, we are suffering. While we appreciate the President for the coastal road project, there is need to complete the East-West Road. If the contractor does not have the capacity, let the contract be given to NDDC.

“I appeal to our own son , Akpabio, to tell the President of the urgent need to act on that road, because our people are suffering,” Diri appealed.

Blessing Ibunge

Credit: Arise News