The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, said the commission is constructing six emergency shelters for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers States during flooding in the Niger River region.
Speaking at a press conference at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt yesterday, Ogbuku said the commission was working hard to mitigate the impact of floods in the region. The NDDC CEO said the project was conceived as a response to the challenge of frequent flooding in the Niger Delta region.
He said the emergency shelters would include basic facilities such as schools, hospitals, restaurants, police stations, and recreational facilities, which would help the community in times of crisis.
He explains, “We have six of these facilities currently under construction in Otuokpoti and Odi, in Bayelsa State, while the ones in Delta State are being built in Patani and Ozorro and another two in Rivers State.”
The NDDC Chairman said the commission would step up efforts to illuminate communities in the nine Niger Delta states with solar street lights as part of efforts to fight crime and control peace in the region.
Ogbuku expressed his happiness with the positive effect of the “Light Up the Niger Delta” project, which he believes has reduced crime in various communities and increased business activities in the region.
“We decided to adopt the clean energy approach which not only provides light but also helps in the fight to mitigate the effects of climate change on our environment.” he said.
Speaking on the commission’s youth empowerment programme, he said the Holistic Opportunity Participation Program (HOPE) would be launched in Port Harcourt later this month.
Also speaking at the NDDC Youth Internship Programme, Ogbuku said entrepreneurship and skills enhancement are key areas to unlock the potential of the youth in the Niger Delta region. He said the aim is to bring peace to the Niger Delta region by equipping the youth with practical and self-sustaining skills to improve their lives and support their families and their communities.
On business activities, Ogbuku said the NDDC, through the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, has facilitated support to farmers and entrepreneurs in the region.
He said, “Technology is key to the future of the Niger Delta. The way technology is changing, it is only wise to change with the times and prepare for the future. We are ready to collaborate with relevant organizations to provide a training platform for our youths.
“We need to build our youths and our children as well. We have acquired 45,000 U-lesson tablets for distribution to schools for the use of our children. We will soon launch the tablets and deploy them to schools across the region.”
These projects include the 25.7 kilometer Ogbia-Nembe road, which is being implemented in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
We also inaugurated a 132KV transmission line and a 32KV/33KV substation in Okitipupa, serving over 2,000 communities in southern Ondo State. Also, we have opened another 1 × 15 MVA 33/11 KVA in Amufi, Edo State.
In Akwa Ibom State, we inaugurated the 600 meter long Ibeno Bridge and the 6.87 kilometer Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-IwuoAchang road in Ibeno Local Government Area. The N10 billion women’s road project connects 20 communities that were previously separated by the Qua Iboe River.
In Abia state, we commissioned the construction of the Obeshi to Oke-Ikpe road at the cost of N3.5 billion. This nine- kilometer road will restore the road link between Rivers and Akwa Ibom State.
