NDBDA MD Laments Effect Of Flooding On Facilities

Managing Director of the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority ( NDBDA), Engr Mark Daso Derekafa, says the authority was affected by the recent floodings which engulfed parts of the country.
He said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harvourt.
According to him ,the flood affected some of the authority’s projects, especially those in Bayelsa State.
“Our projects and plans were affected by the flood, especially in Bayelsa and Rivers State,” he said .
Derefaka said though the federal goverment partially privatised the authority, it has continued to pay staff salaries.
“Federal goverment is still our sponsor and also goes as far as paying the salaries  but as time goes on the authority will be handed over to private investors
“We have been trying to put things on ground such as farms and equipment so that we can be able to pay salaries”.
He also charged staff of the authority to brace up for the challenges ahead.
He also commended the federal goverment for setting up a committee to look at the causes of the flood and expressed the hope that the committee will come up with solutions.
Earlier, adressing staff of the authority during a meeting, he said the authority’s vision was to harness efficiently the region’s water resources in an integrated and sustainable manner to meet the present and future agricultural ,industrial and domestic water requirments of the people in the catchment area.
Derefaka also warned against gossips.
He also pledged to work with the unions to forster industrial harmony.

By: John Bibor & Tiete Preye