NDDC Board: Ambakederimo lauds Tinubu for re-appointing Ogbuku ~ Truth Reporters

 

The Convener, South South Reawakening Group (SSRG), Joseph Ambakederimo, says the re-appointment of Dr Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) shows clearly the grasp of President Bola Tinubu on the challenges facing oil producing areas of the Niger Delta.

Ambakederimo who is also Chairman Board of Trustees Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Producing Areas said the policy direction of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku as enunciated in the last eight months of his leadership must have resonated well with the President's aspiration for the region which must have led the President to have settled for his leadership.

In a statement made available to Truth Reporters on Wednesday, Ambakederimo urged the President to domicile the NDDC in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as it was for less political interference.

He said: "The NDDC cannot be tied to the apron strings of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The Ministry is a distraction for the NDDC because of unwholly interference which is not altruistic in the first instance. 

"It is our considered opinion that this present board is allowed to serve out it's full term so that we can begin to hold them to account. Anything short of this becomes counterproductive to the development of the oil producing areas,"

Ambakederimo further recommended a 7-point roadmap for the NDDC by increasing the 15 percent FG contribution to 25 percent and the 3% contribution from the oil and gas companies increased to 10%.

"Ecological fund due the NDDC from the share of ecological funds released to states should be increased from 50% to 70% and an appreciable percentage of gas flare charge be paid to the NDDC.

"NDDC should be considered to benefit from the recent and future windfall of revenue shared to various entities by the Federal government.

"Scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs because the MNDA since its creation twelve years ago has failed woefully with no verifiable project traced to it. Including having overlapping functions with the NDDC.

"Channel the budgetary provision of the MNDD to the NDDC for proper utilisation of the funds for provision of development infrastructure and capacity building of the youths of the region," Ambakederimo stated.

He further remarked that the recommendations became imperative because it is the NDDC that reaches the remotest communities that produces oil and gas that fuels the Nigerian economy.

"These communities bears the brunt of ecological devastation therefore more funds should be ceded to the NDDC to continue to provide infrastructural development and better life to the inhabitants of these communities.

"We hope that the recommendations should be looked at critically and attended to without bias as a result of the present economic realities," he added.