Loud ovations in the Niger Delta for Buhari

BY CHIZOM PAUL

It is often said that good orators quit the stage when the ovation is still loud. This way, one can effortlessly continue to get cheers and applause long after they have left the spotlight. Apparently, President Muhammadu Buhari was conscious of this fact so he exerted a great deal of energy to make a lasting difference in one of Nigeria’s most strategic and very critical regions – Niger Delta.

Looking back at President Buhari’s efforts in the region over past seven years, it can be said that the biggest challenge that the administration had to surmount was the deep-rooted sabotage and widespread corruption among leaders of the region particularly those who were entrusted with offices and powers.

It can be recalled that for most part of the President Buhari led administration, the key agency whose sole mandate is the development of the Niger Delta region; Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was embroiled in unending controversies and crisis ranging from leadership tussle to a large scale financial misappropriation. As a result, the Commission vied of its course and completely lost focus of its original mandate. At some point in the live of this administration, the NDDC, which was under investigation by the National Assembly, became a subject of national mockery. What was supposed to be the major route to the development of the Niger Delta had become a conduit for money laundering by greedy politicians.

The first and most important task for Mr Buhari was therefore sensitizing a system that was deeply infested with corruption. Hence, the order for a forensic audit of NDDC by the Buhari led administration was a vital step towards rescuing the Commission and the region at large. Buhari’s next move, which has turned out to be a masterstroke, was the appointment of Obong Umana Okon Umana, a thoroughbred administrator, as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs. It can be recalled that shortly after his swearing-in, Mr Umana, who is known to be a man of few words, made a promise to the people of Niger Delta.

Umana, while speaking during a reception held in his honour by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, said: “Though the time is short, we can hit the ground running by making the necessary impact. We’ll be driven by results.” While stating that it is time to work to achieve the Ministry’s target in line with its mandate, Umana called on the staff to be at their best to ensure that a remarkable difference is made in the lives of Nigerians, especially the people in the Niger Delta region. Umana added that his tenure in the ministry will leave indelible footprints that will make President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians proud.

True to his promise, Umana ensured that the Niger Delta Ministry hit the ground running under his watch. These efforts came with visible results especially in the repositioning of NDDC. Rising from a retreat for staff of the Ministry and the Commission, Umana started building a synergy between the two federal parastatals which has been pivotal to their smooth operations in the interest of the Niger Delta.

Umana, in his presentation on behalf of the Ministry at the 12th edition of the Buhari administration scorecard series in Abuja earlier this year, listed the construction of 1,874km of roads, the completion of 44 electrification projects, and the provision of 162 potable water facilities as part of the achievements of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the Niger Delta region during the last seven years. The Niger Delta Affairs Ministry completed more than 393km of the roads while NDDC accounted for more than 1,481km of them. The roads, water and electricity projects were delivered across the nine states of the Niger Delta region. The Minister said during the period under review, the Ministry and the NDDC also delivered 288 transformers, 11,411 solar-powered street lamp posts, 44 school projects, 17 agro-processing plants, 21 social centres, and 15 market stalls to the region.

Other highlights in the Minister’s briefing included the completion of the head office building of the NDDC in Port Harcourt, and the construction of a multi-skills acquisition centre with 500-student boarding capacity in each of the nine states of the Niger Delta region. The skills acquisition centre in Bayelsa State was completed and handed over to the Federal University of Otuoke, he said, adding that two other centres completed in Ondo and Imo States were awaiting presidential approval for handover to tertiary institutions in those states.

Umana further highlighted that the total tally of hard infrastructure projects in various sectors delivered by government to the Niger Delta region during the reporting period stands at 2, 786, made up of 580 delivered by the Ministry and 2, 206 by the NDDC. In terms of social programmes, Mr Umana disclosed that 6, 293 women and youths were trained and empowered with cash and equipment worth N5.5 billion by the federal government. Each of the trainees received cash support ranging from N300,000 to N500,000 and starter-packs. Materials delivered to the trainees included tractors, tricycles, sewing, grinding and hair-dressing machines. According to him, among the trainees were 3,864 non-militant youths and women who were trained in agriculture and its value chain, while 224 motorized tillers were delivered to the farmers.

In addition, training was also mounted for 75 youths in maritime dredging and photography. The Minister said about 5000 youths and community stakeholders were engaged in peace and security programmes during the period.

Umana had explained that the forensic audit ordered by government into the activities of the Commission and the subsequent publication in the media of both completed and cancelled projects under the Commission were part of the repositioning process for transparency and accountability. Keeping to its promise of transparency, the Ministry also published the details of 1,250 projects in the media with more to be published.

Through collaboration, the Niger Delta Ministry under Umana Umana and NDDC has promoted peace and security, coordination of developmental initiatives based on the harmonization of the various development plans into one holistic roadmap, and the repositioning of the NDDC for effective service delivery.

The highlight of President Buhari’s efforts in the Niger Delta was the inauguration of a proper NDDC Board in line with the constitution which has finally laid to rest many of the agitations across the region. With a proper Governing Board in place, every part of the region now have the confidence that their interests are protected. Indeed, the region has never had it so good which is why President Buhari will be quitting the stage on May 29 amidst loud ovations from the people of Niger Delta.