Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere, on Monday said the commission would develop the non-oil sector to boost revenue and attract new industries.
Ekere disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers, at the hand-over by the former acting Managing Director of the commission, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, to the new board.
He said that aside development of non-oil sector, the commission would also focus on four other key areas to drive sustainable development in the region.
“Our priorities aside the non-oil sector, is to ensure regional development and integration, ecological management and healthcare awareness, stakeholder engagement and human capital development while fostering youth engagement.
“We will also focus on intervention programmes that will deliver real measurable developmental outcomes for the region and its citizens.
“NDDC needs to look to innovative and more efficient ways of doing things while enthroning transparency, effective deployment of resources, due process and the quality implementation of projects and programmes,” he said.
Ekere said that the board, appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and inaugurated on Thursday, would restructure the commission’s balance sheet, reform its governance protocols, restore its core mandate and reaffirm commitment to follow due process.
He said that the commission would leverage on the use of technology to increase accountability and efficiency.
In his remarks, Chairman of the commission’s board, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, promised that the board would ensure holistic development of the Niger Delta by turning the region’s challenges into opportunities.
He said that the nation was currently faced with enormous economic challenges to which the commission must be innovative while cutting excesses.
Ndoma-Egba said “our books must be cleaned up and our projects, processes, personnel and finances must be audited.
“We will gainfully engage youths by making policies and programmes that would teach people how to fish and not give youths fish.”
He said that welfare of workers would be addressed to boost morale and accelerate development of the region.
Earlier, Semenitari said that she successfully completed 50 per cent of the projects during her tenure.
“When I assumed office, percentage of jobs completed in the commission as at December 2015 hovered at about 25 per cent.
“But, as at Sept. 9, that figure had gone up to 41 per cent while as at today, we are in the 50 per cent range,” she said.
Semenitari said that confidence had been restored in the commission as bankers and lenders had shown willingness to fund its projects.
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