Group hails Niger Delta minister

A group, the Niger Delta Network, has hailed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd)-led Federal Government for being proactive and sensitive to the development of the Niger Delta region.

The group made its stance known during its enlarged stakeholders meeting, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Thursday.

A statement signed by the group�s Director of Communications, Dr John Douglas, the group said the appointment of Umana Umana as Niger Delta Affairs Minister showed the President’s commitment to the development of the region.

�As soon as President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed the appointment of Mr. Umana Okon Umana as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs in July 2022, he got to work immediately. In his statements, he had made several commitments, prominent of which was to reposition the Niger Delta Development Commission to better serve the people of the region and the purpose for which it was created.�

�Mr. Umana Okon Umana, on resumption, made commendable marks in the Ministry as well as in the Commission. Some of these strides include publication of a list of completed and uncompleted projects of the NDDC to promote transparency, award of scholarships to youths of the region, organisation of retreats for workers at the commission, among other feats.

“As a result of the minister’s outstanding performance, individuals and groups have poured in encomiums in recognition of his contribution to repositioning the NDDC,� the group said.

�The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) commended the efforts of the Minister for repositioning Commission to actualize its mandate. Over 1,000 contracts have been cancelled.

�This is a right step in the right direction. This action will not be very comfortable for those involved, but I see it as a way of protecting the Niger Delta region and the NDDC.

�Over 2,506 projects initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission between 2015 and 2023 of the Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration have been completed, according to a list released by the commission recently. Among projects undertaken by the Commission were roads, shore protection, solar water, buildings, desilting, electricity and canalisation,� it added.

The group lauded Umana for his intervention on the portions of the East-West road damaged flood and for being firm, clear and transparent in his leadership of the MNDA, which according to them, has reflected in the positive change of attitude in NDDC.