The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has disclosed that it would soon start the procurement process towards the award of contract for the shore protection and erosion control of the Odi community shoreline in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Council of Bayelsa State.
NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, stated this after inspecting the erosion-ravaged part of Odi community yesterday.
According to a statement by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Ibitoye Abosede, the NDDC boss said the commission would not relent on its drive to provide basic infrastructure in communities across the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku said no effort would be spared in protecting coastal communities in the region.
“In the next couple of weeks we will start the procurement process for the shore protection project. We will also provide solar street lights in the town,” he noted.
Ogbuku said it was necessary to visit Odi town to engage with the stakeholders in the community and personally assess the challenges facing the area.
“The NDDC management under my leadership believes in stakeholder engagement. This visit is part of that engagement. If you don’t come down to the community to see things for yourself, there is no way you can appreciate the challenges facing the people.
“I received a correspondence from the Council of Chiefs of Odi town requesting that they, the Council of Chiefs, wanted to visit me in Port Harcourt at the NDDC headquarters. But I decided that rather than receive the Council of Chiefs in my office, I would rather come to Odi town and see things for myself so I can have a proper perspective of the challenges,” he added.
Speaking further, he cautioned against politicising development, noting that the people are the ultimate beneficiaries of any development project in the community irrespective of the source.
While welcoming the NDDC delegation, the Secretary of the Odi Council of Chiefs, Truman Abiama, who spoke on behalf of the Amananoowei of Odi Kingdom, King Shine Andrew Apre, commended them for choosing the option of visiting the community to inspect the erosion that was adversely affecting the people.
The traditional ruler thanked Ogbuku for showing concern for the plight of the people of his kingdom. He called on the NDDC to support Odi in promoting the course of the Ijaw nation.
He also invited the commission to the yearly Ogori Ba Uge International Festival, which he said was one of the avenues for taking the story of Odi beyond the shores of Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Coordinator Independent Council for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Bayelsa State, Preye Aganaba, said he was relieved to learn that the NDDC was intervening to save Odi from the ravaging erosion and landslide.
He said that the erosion was one of the many environmental challenges confronting the community, noting that the last incident destroyed many houses located on riverbanks.
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