President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commissioned the just completed 13 Floor Twin Tower Ultra Modern Headquarters Building of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State. Mr. President presided over the ceremony virtually from the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja. Speaking the President applauded the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, for making sure the project is completed. President Buhari recalled that the land where the building is constructed was acquired by the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) in 1996, but was abandoned after series of design amendments.
“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.
“I reassigned the supervision of the NDDC to the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs for administrative efficiency. The 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 need 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.
Reacting during the commissioning, Sen. Akpabio said the completion of the building signals the President’s commitment to the development of the Niger Delta Region.
“You will be remembered by this gesture, and generations will never forget you,’’ the minister said.
The Minister also encouraged stakeholders and other residents of the region to support Buhari’s administration for more projects.
