In keeping with his promise of ensuring that projects to be embarked upon by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Rivers State under his reign as the Rivers State Representative in the 7th Governing Board of the NDDC are borne out of the needs of the people, and that these projects are completed on record time, Sir (Chief) Tony C. Okocha, DSSRS, JP, the Rivers State Representative in the 7th Governing Board of the NDDC, who is also the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee (CTC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, today, undertook the inspection of several ongoing NDDC projects across Rivers State.

The first point of call was the inspection of the “Construction of 2 Numbers of Two-Bedroom Semi Detached Principal and Teachers Quarters at Community Secondary School, Umuechem” in Etche local government area, in Rivers State.

To ensure the safety of the 2 Numbers Two-Bedroom Semi Detached Principal and Teachers Quarters Project which is under construction, and for the safety of the Principal, Staff Members, and others who will be making use of the facility, the Rivers State Representative in the NDDC promised to ensure that the entire school premises will be fenced and litted up with Solar Powered Street Light.

This particular project by the NDDC in Umuechem Community in Etche LGA in Rivers is jinks-breaking in that this is the very first time that any government project, from the Federal, State, or the local government would be cited in the community in her history, despite the huge contribution of the community to the nation from the huge mineral deposit in that community, which has been contributing to the economic mainstay of Nigeria.

For the records, Umuechem Community has about 53 Oil Wells that is sustaining the country with nothing to show for it before this project by the NDDC.

Next was the inspection of the “10 Bedroom Corpers’ Lodge Project” (all ensuite), sited at the Ignatius Ajuru University Campus in Ndele, in Emohua local government area, Rivers State.

The “10 Bedroom Corpers’ Lodge Project” in Emohua LGA has a gymnasium, a large-sized common room, and a leisure centre amongst other facilities for the comfort of the Corpers’ that will be making use of the facility.

From Emohua LGA, the inspection team led by the indefatigable Rivers State Representative in the NDDC headed straight to Soku Community in Akuku-Toru LGA, not minding the rain, for the inspection of “The Emergency Construction of 10,000 Gallons Capacity Solar-Powered Water Project at Soku Community, Akuku-Toru LGA, Rivers State.”

The Solar-Powered Water Project in Soku Community will be recticulated to all the nooks and crannies of the community to make life more meaningful for the people.

Recall that few months back, Soku Community was hit by a cholera outbreak in which the NDDC intervened swiftly through the office of the Rivers State Representative in the Governing Board to avert what would have resulted in the loss of several lives within Soku, and other satellite communities.

As a result of the report made available upon inspection and analysis of the water samples taken from Soku Community by a team from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Sir (Chief) Tony C. Okocha did promised to ensure that a safer source of drinking water will be provided to the people, as a permanent solution to the incessant and perennial cases of the outbreak of cholera which Soku Community has been experiencing since 1971.

On departure from Soku Community in Akuku-Toru LGA,, the train moved to Degema LGA in Rivers State, for the inspection of “The 1,300 Seater Pavilion Project”, sited at the premises of the Degema LGA Secretariat, Degema, Rivers State.

Also inspected today is the “Nkpolu Community Town Hall Project”, and the “Reconstruction of the NTA/Apara Link Road/Drainage Project”, all in Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State.

In all of the inspected project sites of ongoing NDDC projects in Rivers State, the people expressed their joy and excitement on the projects within their domain, while thanking the 7th Governing Board of the NDDC under Dr Samuel Ogbuku PhD, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) for the intervention, which they described as highly impactful, and timely.

In his responses at the various communities in the LGAs visited to inspect ongoing NDDC projects in Rivers State today, Sir (Chief) Tony C. Okocha, the Rivers State Representative in the NDDC affirmed that the progress made in executing the projects inspected was due to the peaceful disposition and cooperation of the benefitting communities.

Speaking further, Sir (Chief) Tony C. Okocha added that, “The project in your domain is in line with the mandate given to the NDDC by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Mr President feels the pain and hardship of the people, and is doing everything possible through projects, policies, and programs such as the continuous distribution of palliatives to the people, the increment of the minimum wage of Nigerian Workers by over 100% from #30,000 to #70,000 which has already been signed into law, the Students’ Loan Scheme, Massive investment in agriculture across the country, and the allocation of more funds to the 36 States and the 774 LGAs for the spread of more developmental projects across the country etc.

“It is important to note that the present economic situation in the country is as a result of many decades of accumulated challenges associated with governance which President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed towards providing lasting solution to.

“There’s practically no way that these challenges from many years of neglect and decay which has brought us to where we are today can be tackled in one year. No one can perform that magic, not even with a magic wand.

“The present government is merely one year in office, and what the President needs from the people is their continuous prayers, support, understanding, and cooperation.

“To the youths, l wish to appeal that you remain peaceful and shun all acts of violence.

“While it is the constitutional rights of citizens to protest, it is equally important that those behind the planned protest are known, and that they articulate their views properly, engage with the government, consolidate, before confrontation.

“The inspection of ongoing NDDC projects in Rivers State today is our own way of advocating for peace and support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and to also advocate
that the planned protest is shelved to avoid a breakdown of law and order, and to avoid a repeat of what happened in Kenya recently as a result of protest, which today has put Kenya in ruins. Sudan is also an example.

“I hear people talking about taking over the government as one of the reasons for the protest. Is that also an economic issue? It is clear that the planned “Nationwide Protest” is ultimately targeted at disrupting the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. No One can take over the government through the back door.

“For us in the 7th Governing Board of the NDDC, our focus is on providing more impactful projects to the people by changing the ugly narratives about the NDDC being a cash cow for some selected few.

“Gone is the era of doing 1 kilometre road to the house of any big man. Not Under my watch in Rivers State will that happen. Under the Chairmanship of Mr Chiedu Ebie, the Chairman of the Management Board of the NDDC, all the projects that will be embarked upon will be from needs assessment with the full and active participation of the people.

“The NDDC under the present Governing/Management Board will not abandon any project. That is our resolve, and it’s evident that we are committed to our promises with the number of projects scattered all over the State already within just seven (7) months of our being in charge. Every LGA in Rivers State will feel the presence and impact of the commission.

“For the contractors handling these projects, l wish to commend them for the speed with which they’re going about the execution of the projects even when they weren’t given a dime as mobilization.

“I wish to assure all our contractors that they will not be owed. They will all be paid in full upon completion of the jobs they’re handling.

“Ours is to pay the contractors upon the successful completion of the jobs at hand. All they need to do as contractors is to apply for payment, and they will be paid.