Office of the Technical Adviser/Focal Person on NDDC Bayelsa State

PRESS RELEASE

NDDC Hands Over Polaku, Akenfa Bridge Projects To Bayelsa Govt

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has handed over two of its uncompleted bridge projects in Bayelsa to the state government.

The critical bridges are located at Akenfa and Polaku in Yenagoa local government area of the state.

The Polaku bridge connects communities in Yenagoa with Sabagreia in Kolokuma/Opokuma local government areas as well as provides an alternative route from the East-West road into the state capital.

It was started in 1982 by the late Melford Okilo government in Rivers State and taken over by the NDDC in year 2000. But the project had been stalled for many years.

Similarly, the Akenfa bridge project, which is across the Epie Creek, had been uncompleted for many years.

On assumption of office, the Governor Douye Diri administration approached the NDDC to take over construction of the projects due to their strategic importance to the state.

Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, while handing over documents on the projects to Governor Diri during a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa, on Thursday, said the commission had paid off the contractors for work done.

Ogbuku noted that the state government now had the responsibility of ensuring their completion.

"We are handing over the Akenfa and Polaku bridge projects to the Bayelsa State government for completion and for the benefit of the people. There are no encumbrances as we are not owing the contractors. So the government is free to handle the two projects," Ogbuku said.

The commission's boss said the delegation, which included the Bayelsa representative, Senator Denyabofa Dimaro, was in the state to formally introduce the new board to the governor and to inaugurate some projects.

While seeking collaboration with the state government to deliver impactful projects to Bayelsa and other Niger Delta states, Ogbuku said the commission is also “willing to synergise with other partners such as the World Bank, Africa Development Bank and the European Union to develop the region."

While commending Senator Diri on his developmental strides in the state, he hinted that the NDDC was in the process of offsetting the N2 billion owed Setraco for the Ogbia-Nembe road and that President Muhammadu Buhari was expected to inaugurate it in the second week of May.

Responding, Governor Douye Diri underscored the need for the NDDC to collaborate with governors of the Niger Delta states on project ex*****on and ensure equitable distribution of infrastructure.

"You have a lot of abandoned projects littering our state. But I'm sure you are doing a lot about them, and knowing who you are, I also believe that you have the capacity to lead the NDDC to greater heights to the admiration of people of the Niger Delta.

“Nobody is an island. Therefore, we need to collaborate for the overall development of our region and the states. So, without you even asking for support, I lend my support to you and the board of the NDDC.”

The Bayelsa helmsman however noted that the commission was yet to have a befitting permanent office in the state.

While congratulating the new board of the NDDC, Diri stated that governors of the region took the battle to the President for a substantive board, particularly after they were inaugurated as an advisory board of the NDDC.

“We did not understand why we should be advising an interim board whose lifetime we could not guess. So, for us, it is a prayer answered. We appreciate Mr. President for listening to the cry of people of the Niger Delta who had persistently requested for a substantive NDDC board.”

Daniel Alabrah
Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor

Gov. Diri receives New NDDC MD in Government House

....thanks President Buhari for constituting substantive board of NDDC

....calls for collaboration for overall development of Niger Delta region

"First, I like to congratulate you and your board on your appointment as the Managing Director and members of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC).

As you are aware, as governors, we have taken this battle to the President for a substantive board, particularly, immediately after we have been inaugurated as an Advisory Board of the NDDC. We do not understand how we can be advising an interim board whose lifetime we can never guess, so, for us, it is a prayer that has been answered. We want to appreciate Mr. President for listening to the cries of the people of the Niger Delta who have persistently requested for the substantive board of the NDDC.

There is nobody who is an island, therefore, we need to collaborate for the overall development of our region and the states where we hold sway. And so, my dear brother and friend, without you even asking for support, I lend my support to you and the board of the NDDC.

Whatever offices we are holding today are temporary, it is the legacies that we leave behind that will speak for us, and so, beyond the offices, is your legacy in NDDC and my legacy as a governor, and we collaborated for the overall development of the different segments of our society.

Take it for granted that you have me as your brother and friend.

You know you have a lot of abandoned projects in Bayelsa State, and I'm sure you are doing a lot about it, and knowing who you are, I also believe that you have the capacity to lead the NDDC to greater heights to the admiration of people of the Niger Delta."

.. Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State speaking when he received the new Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and the management team in Government House, Yenagoa.

WARM FELICITATIONS

it is my pleasure to heartily felicitate you on your appointment and inauguration as the Managing Director & Bayelsa State Rep.of the NDDC Board.

It is my conviction and prayer that your long and distinguished pedigree in public service will once again find full expression in these positions

Please permit me to take this opportunity to assure you of my commitment to closely work with you to achieve our common aspiration of a prosperous and peaceful Niger Delta. I also look forward to working with you to strengthen the cooperation between the Bayelsa State Government and Niger Delta Development Commission.

Once more, I wish you nothing but success in your assignment.

Please do accept the certainties of my high esteem and consideration.

Nyenye Kuro Matthias
Technical Adviser on NDDC
to the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State

PHOTO STORY ON THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF 2020 FLOOD ON COMMUNITIES AND GOVERNMENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN BAYELSA STATE BY A JOINT TEAM OF THE OFFICE OF THE TA & NDDC REPRESENTATIVES

BAYELSA BEGIN TRACKING OF NDDC UNCOMPLETED PROJECTS

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Government has commenced the community by community tracking and profiling of all projects awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with a view to ascertain those abandoned and uncompleted since inception.

The exercise which is been carried out by the office of Technical Adviser and Focal Person on NDDC to the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, was expected to meet communities’ leaders and traditional rulers.

In a chat with newsmen in Yenagoa, the Technical Adviser on NDDC, Nyenye Matthias, said they are also developing an app where they would upload the entire tracking report so that with just a click of the finger, Bayelsans would access the status of NDDC intervention in the state.

He said, “First, as we all know, the NDDC as an interventionist agency have several projects it has awarded across Bayelsa. Sadly, most of these projects were either abandoned or not completed.

“This is a concern to both the state and federal government, which led to the carrying out of a forensic audit of the Commission.

“At the level of the state, my office is also carrying out a tracking of all NDDC projects in communities across the state. We have concluded in two LGAs (Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma) and looking forward to concluding the remaining six LGAs.

“We are also developing an app where we will upload the entire tracking report so that with just a click of the finger, Bayelsans can access the status of NDDC intervention in the state.

“Just a few days ago, we had the visit of the interim administrator/CEO of the NDDC to the state. The visit provided opportunity for the state government to engage the NDDC on mutually beneficial issues in the spirit of partnership and collaboration. We are looking forward to having more NDDC intervention across the state.”

He said, subsequent to the commitment and the spirit of collaboration, the state government and the NDDC were jointly organising an interactive session with traditional institutions and other critical stakeholders in the development process.

Matthias said the direct involvement of traditional institutions in the governance process would galvanise local participation and ownership of the projects in their domain.

“The aim of the interactive session is to seek for their support, collaboration and feedbacks on developmental issues in their domain.

“Earlier I spoke about the project tracking my office is carrying out. It is important to place an emphasis on it considering the huge amount of funds that has been dissipated on them.

“Remember the state government is contributing to the NDDC and therefore it is our concern that funds coming through the Commission are judiciously utilised.”

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/nddc-diri-aide-laments-poor-project-ex*****on/

NDDC: Diri aide laments poor project ex*****on The Technical Adviser to Governor Douye Diri on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nyenye Kuro Matthias, has expressed displeasure with the number of abandoned projects of the interventionist agency in the state.

PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF BAYELSA STATE ON NDDC, ON THE 6TH OF SEPTEMBER 2022

I wish to appreciate His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri for my appointment as the Technical Adviser and Focal Person on NDDC.

First, as we all know, the NDDC as an interventionist agency have several projects it has awarded across Bayelsa, sadly most of these projects were either abandoned or not completed. This is a concern to both the State and the Federal government, which led to the carrying out of a forensic audit of the Commission. At the level of the State, my office is also carrying out a tracking of all NDDC projects in Communities across the State. We have concluded in two LGAs (Sagbama and Kolokuma/Opokuma) and is looking forward to concluding the remaining six LGAs. We are also developing an app where we will upload the entire tracking report so that with just a click of the finger, Bayelsans can access the status of NDDC intervention in the State.

Just a few days ago, we had the visit of the interim administrator/CEO of the NDDC to the State. The visit provided opportunity for the State government to engage the NDDC on mutually beneficial issues in the spirit of partnership and collaboration. We are looking forward to having more NDDC intervention across the State.

On behalf of His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, I wish to thank the Interim Administrator and the leadership of the NDDC for their understanding of the issues in the State. Subsequent to this commitment and the spirit of collaboration. we are jointly organising an interactive session with our traditional institutions and other critical stakeholders in the development process. Their direct involvement in the governance process will galvanize local participation and ownership of the projects in their domain. The aim of the interactive session is to seek for their support, collaboration and feedbacks on developmental issues in their domain.

Earlier I spoke about the project tracking my office is carrying out. It is important to place an emphasis on it considering the huge amount of funds that has been dissipated on them. Remember the State government is contributing to the NDDC and therefore it is our concern that funds coming through the Commission are judiciously utilized. The tracking report for the two LGAs we have completed shows a very dismal performance of the Commission as none of the LGAs had up to 50% of project awarded completed. We are hoping that after the tracking exercise and the interactive session, the State government and the NDDC will sit and discuss strategies on avoiding this scenario going forward.

Signed;

Kuro Matthias Nyenye

Technical Adviser to the Governor of Bayelsa State on NDDC