The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, is set to partner with the Nigeria Army on infrastructure development to support the newly established 6 Division of the Army with headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Nsima U. Ekere, spoke on the partnership, which he referred to as bonding, when the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 6 Division, Major General Enobong Okon Udoh, led an entourage of top military officers of the 6 Division to pay a courtesy visit in his office at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
He said: “The NDDC will partner with the 6 Division on the development of infrastructure at its headquarters in Port-Harcourt. We will look at a plan that covers a five year period in which the NDCC will partner with the Army to develop infrastructure for the new division.”
Ekere noted that it was in the interest of both parties to ensure that the partnership worked not just for the mutual benefit of the NDDC and the Nigerian Army but also for the long term benefit of Nigerians.
He commended the 6 Division leadership for its contributions to the improved security in the Niger Delta region. According to the NDDC Chief Executive Officer, “There is need for more collaboration and interface between the Nigeria Army and the Commission for the sake of the Niger Delta region.
“We will set up a team to look at your areas of need to see where we can intervene immediately and others that we can deal with in the years ahead.”
The NDDC boss noted that the Board of the Commission was focused on implementing the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan through its new strategy of enhanced service delivery. He said that the new strategy was anchored on the 4-R initiative meant to: “Restructure the balance sheet, Reform the governance protocols, Restore our core mandate and Reaffirm our collective commitment to doing what is right and proper.”
Ekere commended the GOC for achieving so much in a very short time since he assumed duties in Port Harcourt. “You have done a lot already, turning the barracks into a construction site. These are commendable efforts,” he said.
He noted: “The Niger Delta region not only produces the wealth of the country, we are also a region that needs a lot of infrastructural development because of the difficult terrain. The challenging terrain requires a lot of resources.
“The security challenges of the Niger Delta is major area of concern. ‘Operation Delta Safe’ is a commendable effort. The Army and other military agencies have done well for our collective security in the region. We appreciate the efforts of the Chief of Army Staff who has led from the front to make Nigeria safe.”
In his remarks, the GOC 6 Division, Nigeria Army, Major General Enobong Udoh solicited more support from the NDDC. He informed the NDDC Managing Director that the Division which was established eight months ago needed support to provide adequate infrastructure for its officers and men as well as support its operations which cover the four States of Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta.
“I am here to solicit your support in developing our infrastructure. I request the NDDC management to undertake a tour of the 6 Division’s headquarters. We are working on providing transit accommodation. There are still more to be done. We, therefore, ask for a deliberate partnership with the NDDC. We are mandated to fight the threats to security to ensure that there is peace for developmental activities.”
The GOC said that the establishment of the 6 Division in the Army would go a long way in addressing some of the peculiar challenges of the Niger Delta region.