Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, on Wednesday inaugurated two Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects in Bayelsa State.
The commissioned projects include the NDDC Renewed Hope Multipurpose Training Centre and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Otupkpoti, Ogbia Local Government Area, as well as the new NDDC Bayelsa State Office in Yenagoa.
Olukoyede expressed satisfaction with the projects, noting they were funded through recovered resources returned to the NDDC. He praised the agency’s effective use of the funds and assured that more recovered monies would be released for further development initiatives.
Minister of Regional Development, Mr Abubakar Momoh, applauded the Bayelsa State Government for its cooperation with federal institutions like the NDDC, urging other states to adopt similar partnerships to foster rapid development.
Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, revealed that the ultra-modern Bayelsa State office had been named in honour of the late Senator Melford Okilo, the first civilian governor of old Rivers State and a key advocate for the commission’s establishment.
In his remarks, Governor Douye Diri stressed the importance of unity among political and public officeholders to attract meaningful development. He underscored the need for collaborative efforts between states, the Federal Government and international partners to address environmental issues such as flooding, erosion and pollution.
Diri noted that such cooperation had led to the Federal Government’s assumption of responsibility for the construction of the Nembe-Brass road.
The event featured goodwill messages from members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the NDDC, alongside contributions from other stakeholders.
(NAN)