Oboh Tasks Nigerian Engineers On Service Delivery …As NDDC Empowers 5,765 N’Delta Youths

Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission Dr. Christian Oboh, has tasked the Nigerian Society of Engineers to evolve ways of sanctioning members who failed to adhere strictly to job specifications.

He gave the charge when officials of the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers paid him a courtesy call at the commission’s headquarters in the Rivers State capital.

“We are looking forward to when your society will begin to sanction your members who do not live to specifications because the rate of failure of our roads is becoming very embarrassing” the NDDC boss said.

According to Dr. Oboh, the NDDC cannot achieve its mandate of developing infrastructure in the Niger Delta without the engineers, adding “we are willing to partner your society, but please look for a way to discipline erring contractors who deliver poor jobs”.

Earlier, Chairman of the society, Engineer Denis Dannia had expressed appreciation to the NDDC for its support over the years, particularly the commission’s assistance to the NSE technical programmes.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Tarilah Tebepah,  says that 5,765 youths in the Niger Delta have so far benefited from the agency’s skill empowerment programmes.

Tebepah made the disclosure in Port Harcourt on Tuesday at the First Niger Delta Youth Investment and Business Development Summit entitled “After Oil, What Next”.

He said that 4,025 kilometres of roads had also been constructed and that 1,261 transformers were installed in 400 communities across the region.

Tebepah said the commission had set aside 70 per cent of its annual budget on infrastructure development in its drive to fast-track development in the region.

The NDDC chairman said the commission would soon launch a programme that would create massive employment for youths in the region.

He said that the NDDC was working toward providing technology parks and small and medium-scale enterprise centres in each state of the region.

“We think time has come for us to objectively monitor job creation activities; so we will soon create commodity marketing boards that will assist farmers sell their produce. “

Tebepah said the commission would soon embark on its broad band service project that entailed laying of submarine cables from Calabar to service providers in Lagos.

Managing Director of the commission, Dr Christian Oboh, said the summit was aimed at mapping new strategies for youth’s empowerment in the region.

Oboh said the outcome of the summit would be implemented and sustained to create wealth for youths in the Niger Delta.