Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo State, has tasked the new Acting Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to revisit the intention of setting up the agency, lamenting marginalization by the Commission.
The governor spoke when he received in audience the new Acting MD of the Commission, Engr. Emmanuel Audu- Ohuwavborua, and his team of top management staff at Government House, Owerri, Friday.
He noted that over the years, the past NDDC leadership resorted to maintenance approach to solving problems affecting the member states as opposed to projects conception and implementation, noting that from the Act establishing the Commission, so many things have been left unaccomplished.
Uzodimma expressed regret that even in the area of interventions, states such as Imo, as a critical stakeholder in the oil and gas has not been treated fairly.
The Governor recalled a typical example, during the Covid-19 pandemic era when the Commission was expected to come to the aid of the State, but it was nowhere to be seen not withstanding that it featured prominently in other NDDC states.
“What is good for the goose, is good for the gander,” Governor Uzodimma said. He appealed to the new leadership to redress the issue of intra marginalisation in NDDC.
The Acting Managing Director, Engr. Emmanuel Audu- Ohuwavborua,said it was an “auspicious moment to be in Imo State at this time to present drugs with the flood disaster in some riverine communities in Imo State.”
He agreed with the Governor that there are problems but reassured him that he will start from the onset to solve the problems facing the Commission.
“We are technocrats. We don’t make promises we are not ready to honour. Be rest assured that the marginalisation has ended.”