By Harry Awurumibe. State House, Abuja
Determined to reposition the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to meet the expectations of the people of Niger Delta Oil Producing States, President Muhammadu Buhari today (Tuesday) in Abuja inaugurated an Advisory
Committee of the NDDC which includes the nine Governors of the Niger Delta Oil Producing States.
The Committee also includes two federal ministers namely the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs (Senator Godswill) Akpabio and Minister of Environment (Sharon Ikeazor).
Speaking to State House Correspondents at Presidential Villa, Abuja after the inauguration, Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa who is the
Governor of Delta State and Chairman of the Niger Delta Oil Producing States said that “Mr. President has just inaugurated the Niger Delta Advisory Committee. This is a Committee that is actually established by the NDDC Act but for some years the Committee has not been put in place. During the time of President Obasanjo, the Committee was in place.
” The Committee is made up of nine governors of the Niger Delta Oil Producing States. And Mr. President has also nominated two of his ministers. Minister of the Niger Delta and the Minister of Environment as members of the Committee.
” We are all aware that the Advisory Committee is to offer advice to the Board and also help to monitor the activities of the Board to ensure that it is in line with the objectives of the Commission”. The Governor stated.
Okowa also revealed that the Committee met today after the inauguration to look at some of the activities of the Commission. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs who is the Supervising Minister has briefed members of the Advisory Committee on the actions being taken for which we are happy that actions actually have been taken. And we hope yet again to meet on April 2 in Rivers State to be able to look at further details. It’s after this second brief that we will be in a position to actually begin to offer advice on what we ought to do and to also find ways and means of collaborating with the NDDC to ensure that we are able to undertake programmes and projects in the best interest of the Niger Delta area and which also is in the best interest of the country “.
He also said that the Advisory Committee is constituted in accordance with the provisions of Part III, Section 11 (2) of the NDDC Establishment ACT. ( As Amended).
According to Section 11 (2) of the Act, the Advisory Committee is saddled with the responsibility of advising the Board and to monitor the activities of the Commission, with a view to achieving set objectives as well as to make rules regulating its own proceedings.
Membership of the Advisory Committee as provided in Part III, Section 11(1a) is comprised as follows:
Other Governors present at the briefing were member States of the Commission (9 States of the Niger Delta Region) and two Persons determined by the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria which in this circumstance are the Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Minister of Federal Ministry of Environment.
