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"Members of the Governing Board are all one. We are united in serving the people of the Niger Delta. We are like a family. We have work to do for the Niger Delta people. Today is the beginning of new things in the life of the Niger Delta."

- NDDC Board Chairman, Mama Niger Delta, Lauretta Onochie, at the handing over ceremony.

The day after the inauguration of the NDDC Board witnessed the official Handover session by the outgoing Acting Managing Director Engr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua at the Commission's Headquarters, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Ex-IYC boss seeks support for NDDC acting MD

A former President Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, has called on youths and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta to support President Muhammadu Buhari's decision to appoint Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua as the Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Commending Buhari for the appointment, Eradiri in a statement signed at the weekend in Port Harcourt Rivers State, said Audu-Ohwavborua deserved the support of stakeholders pending the inauguration of the Commission's substantive board.

While expressing optimism that the board promised by the President would soon be ready, insisting that the existing management of NDDC must be allowed to implement its vision for the Commission.

He observed Audu-Ohwavborua had already hit the ground running refocusing and repositioning the Commission for optimum performance.

Eradiri said on assumption of office, the acting MD gave clear directives on the flood disaster that ravaged the Niger Delta adding that the Commission was in the process of rolling out massive relief materials and medical interventions to assist victims of the flood.

He said Audu-Ohwavborua had also paid internal obligations including salaries of some categories of workers accumulated by the NDDC and had taken steps to reorganise the Commission.

He noted that the acting MD had also commenced consultations with critical stakeholders and member states to get their inputs and bring them up to speed with the ongoing reforms in the Commission.

Eradiri described the acting MD as an experienced administrator, who understood the challenges of the NDDC with the capacity to proffer required solutions having been part of the Commission's system.

He said: "We are happy with the appointment of Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, and we commend President Buhari for his commitment to the wishes of the people of the Niger Delta region.

"The Acting MD has been part of the Commission's system and knows the needs and challenges of the youths of the region. He is a round peg in a round hole. This is perhaps the first time an experienced within the NDDC system, who rose to the position of a director, is being appointed to manage the affairs of the Commission.

"We call on all the youths and stakeholders in the Niger Delta to support the new acting MD to enable him carry out his vision and mandate for the Commission pending the inauguration of the substantive board of the NDDC.

"The acting MD has shown that he understands the challenges of the NDDC following his performance since he assumed office. He has since then given clear directives on the flood disaster and the NDDC will soon roll out massive relief materials and medical interventions to support victims of the flood.

"Besides, the new MD has refocused and repositioned the Commission for optimum performance. He has also ensured payments of internal obligations including accumulated salaries of some categories of workers”.