Niger Delta
NDDC Board: Inaugurate Screened Board, N’Delta Youths Urge Buhari
A coalition of Niger Delta youths has charged President Muhammadu Buhari, to urgently inaugurate screened members of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), without further delay.
A statement signed by the National President, Niger Delta Youth Coalition, Tamunopriye Alaibo; General Secretary, OkonUdo Archibong; and Publicity Secretary, Uche Onyema, yesterday, warned that if the president fails to do the needful, the youths would have no option than to resort to other means to force the government to act.
The statement reads, “We, the coalition of youth associations in the nine constituent states of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), call on President Muhammadu Buhari, to inaugurate the Senate-confirmed Governing Board of the commission following the completion of the forensic audit as has been confirmed by the Minister of Niger Delta.
“While receiving some members of the forensic audit team in his office on Monday, August 9, 2021, Senator Godswill Akpabio confirmed that the forensic audit of the NDDC, on which account the Board nominated by Mr President and confirmed by the Senate on November 5, 2019, was put on hold, has been concluded, and the report was now ready to be submitted to President Buhari.
“With the completion of the audit, therefore, we urge Mr President to put in place the Governing Board to ensure accountability, equitable representation and rapid development of the NDDC states.
“We recall that on June 24,2021, while receiving the Ijaw National Congress at the State House in Abuja, President Buhari promised that the NDDC Board would be inaugurated as soon as the forensic audit report is submitted and accepted.
“The President said,‘Based on the mismanagement that had previously bedevilled the NDDC, a forensic audit was set up and the result is expected by the end of July 2021. I want to assure you that as soon as the forensic audit report is submitted and accepted, the NDDC Board will be inaugurated’.
“It is against this background that our Coalition of Youth Associations from the nine constituent states of the NDDC align with the demands of Niger Delta governors, ethnic nationalities, statesmen and civil society organisations who have been calling for the inauguration of the Governing Board, since 2019, in compliance with the NDDC Act and to ensure full representation of the constituent states.
“We wish to caution that any further delay in inaugurating the Board of NDDC will unnecessarily aggravate heightened tension in the entire Niger Delta region, which unfortunately is inimical to the peace so far enjoyed in the region which lays the golden eggs that sustain the nation’s economy.
“We call on Mr President to follow through on his promise and inaugurate the board that he appointed for the commission. Since the inauguration of the board was put on hold in November, 2019, the NDDC has been run by Interim Managements and a sole administrator who have been utilising the funds of the commission without any significant development projects commissioned in the constituent states in the last two years. Our people have suffered untold neglect from the absence of representation in management. The NDDC Act provides for a board that has membership from all the nine constituent states, which is what Mr President followed in nominating the Board now awaiting inauguration.
“President MuhammaduBuhari, in a letter personally signed by him, and dated October 18, 2019, sent the names of nominees for the NDDC Board to the Senate. The members were vetted by all relevant agencies of the Federal Government following which they were screened and confirmed by the Nigerian Senate on November 5, 2019.
“Mr President asked that the inauguration of the board should be put on hold pending the completion of the forensic audit, for which an Interim Management Committee was appointed for the NDDC. The Federal Government announced during the inauguration ceremony of the IMC that the Senate-confirmed NDDC Board will be inaugurated after the forensic audit.
“Our people can no longer endure a prolonged wait before the board takes over as our region has been yearning for the impact of the NDDC these past years. We, therefore, urge Mr President to speedily inaugurate the NDDC Board to ensure fair representation of the nine constituent states, accountability in the utilisation of the NDDC funds, checks and balances and due process in the commission in compliance with the NDDC Act.”
The Governor announced this recently during a fireside chat on the second day of the Ibom Ignite 2026 Conference at Ibom Hall, Uyo.
He said the new rates would take effect from February 2027 after governorship election and as he will be sworn-in for another term to continue the government.
Eno said the increase was intended to help students from less privileged backgrounds meet their educational expenses.
“We started by paying a bursary, we moved it, it’s now 50,000 for every student. But again, to show you that we’re engaging, and that we’re thinking about young people, from February 2027 we want to make sure that our young people who come from the kind of background I came from can at least pay their tuition, bursary will move to 200,000″, he said.
He also pledged to sustain free and compulsory education at the primary and secondary school levels.
The Governor urged beneficiaries of the N50 million Ibom Ignite business grant to invest the money in their businesses rather than spend it on personal pleasure or unproductive ventures.
Describing the grant as seed capital for business development, he said beneficiaries needed to use the funds judiciously to improve their livelihoods.
“A seed not properly planted and tended was as good as dead”, Eno said.
Speaking of support for vulnerable residents, the Governor said his administration had built more than 500 Compassionate Homes for less privileged people across the state’s 31 Local Government Areas.
He added that each beneficiary received a N500,000 business grant to support their livelihood.
Eno promised to build an additional 1,000 Compassionate Homes and provide the accompanying business grants across the state’s wards if re-elected.
The State’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, disclosed this during the 201st session of the state’s executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
Prof. Brisibe stated that government also equipped and rehabilitated 49 primary and 13 secondary health facilities within Yenagoa metropolis and in far-flung communities of the state.
He praised the State Governor, Douye Diri-led administration for its investment in human capacity development initiatives, noting that it had improved welfare of health workers by directing that every health facility had residential accommodation with at least two sources of power supply.
Acording to him, another success achieved in the sector was the provision of ambulance services and the approval of various welfare packages for health workers aimed at enhancing productivity and effective service delivery.
“I stand here today, Your Excellency, to extol and celebrate your phenomenal development effort in creating access to quality and robust healthcare for all Bayelsans.
“Between 2024 and today, we’ve upgraded, renovated and equipped 49 primary healthcare facilities across the state.
“Also within this period, you’ve about creating access to those very difficult-to-reach areas. upgraded, renovated and equipped 13 secondary care facilities across the state. One of the most intriguing part of this investment is that it is not just about facilities in Yenagoa, but also about creating access to those very difficult-to-reach areas.
“You’ve also invested in all of the health sector value chain to improve access by providing ambulance services and also invested in human capital development.
“You directed that any health facility we renovate or upgrade or build must have residential quarters for the workers. You also directed that the health facility must have a minimum of two sources of power supply. That is, either it is solarised with a generator, or with the national grid”, the Commissioner said.
While presenting a delegation from the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP) led by the President, Dr. AnnasIdris, Prof. Brisibe explained that the association had about 20,000 membership across the country under the employ of various state governments in secondary healthcare facilities in rural areas.
The NAGGMDP President, who presented an Award of Exemplary Leadership to Diri in recognition of his administration’s investment in the health sector, commended the state’s use of drone technology to deliver essential medical supplies such as blood and vaccines to hard-to-reach communities, as well as the renovation of primary and secondary health facilities.
DrIdris equally lauded the approval of improved welfare packages for medical and dental practitioners, including accomplishment allowances, specialist allowances and the reviewed professional allowances table, saying it will boost productivity and curb brain drain.
He recalled the association’s 2025 outreach through the Nigerian Doctors Foundation in Southern Ijaw, Sagbama, Ogbia and Yenagoa, during which medical services and assistive devices were provided at the state’s School for Children with Special Needs.
The Association boss canvassed support for the 2026 International Day of Persons with Disability scheduled for December 3, 2026 to cover the remaining four local government areas.
Responding, Diri expressed delight for the honour and dedicated the award to the Health Commissioner and the State Exexutive Council for their excellent work.
The Bayelsa Governor expressed his administration’s determination to prioritise investment in the health sector, stressing that Bayelsa was among the few states in the country with a specialised medical university.
“You can imagine the level of investment in certain institutions, and I am sure that your colleagues from Bayelsa would have taken you round the Bayelsa Medical University here in Yenagoa, and the other campus in Sampou.
“I believe you have seen what we have done, as you rightly mentioned, with Zipline in delivering health services to far-flung communities, which hitherto would have taken us a longer time to reach. But through the Zipline drone system, it takes only minutes for the requirements and consignment to be delivered to those communities. As a government, we will continue to prioritise healthcare”, the Governor said.
He restated his call on politicians and their supporters to engage in issue-based campaigns during this political season rather than resorting to abusive language, and advised them to guard against utterances that could cause disaffection and destabilise the state, noting that “beyond politics Bayelsans remain brothers and sisters.”
By: AriweraIbibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Expressing the State Government’s commitment to boosting small scale businesses, the State Government disclosed that so far, N2 billion had been disbursed to 3,496 traders across 31 local government areas to encourage commercial activities in rural communities.
The State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Capt. Iniobong Ekong, disclosed that N31 billion was earmarked in 2026 as empowerment for traders, youths, women, farmers, transport operators as well as owners of the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) under the Arise Agenda blueprint of the Pastor Umo Eno-led administration.
Speaking during the recent Ministerial Briefing at Akpan Isemin Hall, Government House, Uyo, the state capital, Ekong listed some of the achievements of the ministry to include business support, market infrastructure, investment promotion and industrial development.
The Commissioner explained that the ministry aims at positioning the state as a leading destination for investment, trade, industrialisation and development of micro businesses.
“The Ministry of Trade and Investment has the mandate to reposition the state as a leading investment destination and centre for trade, industrialisation, and growth of small businesses in line with the developmental framework of the ARISE Agenda”, he stated.
He stated that the business grants disbursed were meant to support beneficiaries’ working capital, help them expand their businesses, restock their shops and meet customer demand.
He announced market infrastructure progress at Ikot Ekpene modern International market project designed to accommodate 1,200 shops across 30 market blocks.
Ekong added that facilities at the International market include wholesale and distribution warehouses, administrative building, dedicated power station, borehole water supply, cooling facility, modern slaughterhouse, two restaurants and internal roads.
He said the project’s perimeter fence was 95 per cent complete, with installation of gates to be completed.
“The ministry is also planning industrial complexes for agricultural processing as part of efforts to attract investors and create more opportunities for local businesses”, he said.
According to him, the ministry was working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to promote non-oil exports and develop a framework to help local producers reach wider markets.
“The ministry is also monitoring locally produced commodities, including cocoa, palm oil, palm kernel, rubber and ginger, to check their quality and classification and track their movement.
“The exercise is expected to help check smuggling and reduce revenue losses”, he explained.
He added that the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme, supported by the World Bank, was reviewing regulations, permits, fees and administrative procedures that affect businesses, with the aim of making it easier for them to operate and improve transparency.
“The ministry is providing technical, administrative and financial training, as well as consultancy services, to micro, small and medium-size enterprises.
“It is also researching locally available raw materials and working with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and Corporate Affairs Commission to help businesses meet required standards”, Ekong added.
By: Enoch Epelle
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