Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, has assured of the new leadership’s commitment to unveiling a strategic vision and setting the tone for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
Ebie, who made these remarks during a tour of the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, emphasized the need for the new board and executive management to take fundamental steps that would inform the implementation of fresh strategies to drive development in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.
Accompanying the Chairman on the facility tour were other members of the NDDC Board, including the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Executive Director of Projects, Sir Victor Antai; and the Executive Director Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Saturday by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, Ebie mentioned that, in their inaugural meeting, the board familiarized itself with the Commission’s activities to pave the way for the rollout of new strategies.
“We received a status report from the Managing Director, and we looked at the kind of vision to set for the Commission. In subsequent meetings, we will get down to work and ensure that we set the right tone for the management to implement our policies,” Ebie stated.
Expressing satisfaction with the quality of facilities at the Commission’s headquarters, Ebie acknowledged the massive and elaborate property but highlighted the need for further work, especially in the ancillary building. He emphasized the importance of creating a conducive working environment for staff and assured that efforts would be made to ensure contractors completed ongoing work in the offices promptly.
During the facility tour, the NDDC Director of Human Resources and Administration, Mr. Patrick Ekade, briefed the Chairman on ongoing efforts to procure fire trucks for the Commission’s fire service unit. When fully equipped, the unit will not only serve the NDDC building but also respond to distress calls from the Commission’s host community and beyond.
Ekade stressed the need for adequate security in the building complex to promptly address safety issues, stating, “For a massive building of this nature, we need to have sufficient security architecture to take care of the staff and visitors.”
Board members also inspected the water treatment plant, the 100,000-capacity tank serving the office complex, and the infrastructure for electricity supply to the building. They visited various offices in the 13-floor main building and the 4-floor ancillary building, including the medical center, banking hall, and staff canteen. The headquarters complex, commissioned on March 11, 2021, was initiated by the defunct Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission.