President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the headquarters building of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 25 years after the groundbreaking ceremony.
While virtually inaugurating the building from the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja, Buhari commended the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, for steadfastness in ending many years of renting by the commission.
The President said the land was acquired by the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) in 1996, and was abandoned after series of design amendments.
President Buhari, in a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity Femi Adesina, urged the management to commit the amounts used for renting to more rewarding benefits.
In his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio noted that the completion of the N16 billion building signals the President’s commitment to the development of the oil producing region, and ending of activities of corrupt public officials, who also negated the connection of the offices to national grid over many years in order to seek rent on fueling of generators.
Akpabio who commissioned the building on behalf of the President described the successful completion of the building as;
A milestone which shows the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to the development of Nigeria particularly the Niger Delta region.
I want to thank the President for the love he has for the Niger Delta Region and to say that, Mr President, this is a monument that stand to remember you in his positively.
Senator Akpabio urged leaders, traditional rulers and youths in the region to support President Buhari’s administration so that it would complete most of the abandoned projects by previous administrations, which include the Second Niger Bridge.
He warned that the persistent fights and petitions among leaders must be shelved for development.
On his part, Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo state, who spoke at the event, thanked the president for the completion of the 13-floor building, promising that the nine governors under the NDDC would continue to support his bold steps in development.
See some photos of the building below;
