Port Harcourt – Mrs Ibim Semenitari, the Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has said that the commission would assist in developing communities in Ondo State.
A statement issued by the commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, in Port Harcourt on Friday, said that Semenitari made the pledge when she visited Oba Adegoke Adeusi, the Olufon of Ifon in the state.
The managing director is in Ondo for the inauguration of the multi-million naira “Mulowaduro Road” project constructed by the commission.
Semenitari told the monarch that NDDC was in Ifon community as part of its renewed commitment to spread development across the nine states that make up the Niger Delta region.
“Ondo State, being a critical part of the Niger Delta region, deserves to be given its fair share of projects.
“We reassure you that the commission will continue to bring development to Ifon and other communities in Ondo State as well as deliver development to the entire region.
“NDDC is on auto-pilot and cannot allow any community in the region to be left behind.
“We are determined to drive development very astutely, and within the means available to us,” the acting managing director was quoted as saying.
The statement said that Semenitari commended residents of Ifon community for their peaceful conduct and support to the commission.
She said that their support to contractors led to successful execution of projects, particularly the Mulowaduro road project that cost the commission millions of naira.
According to her, when a community is hostile to contractors and NDDC, the tendency is that the project will drag on for long and the community may not get another one.
The statement said that she commiserated with the traditional ruler on the death his brother, Navy Capt. Joseph Adeusi (rtd), a former military administrator of Akwa Ibom.
It said that Adeusi bestowed on Semenitari a prestigious royal title, `Eleru of Ifon”.
Besides commending NDDC, Adeusi expressed optimism that the project would boost social and economic activities in the area.
The royal father noted that the commission is the only government agency that has provided infrastructure and other basic amenities to the community in the last seven years.
“Apart from roads, the commission had built classrooms and organised free medical missions for the people in the area.
“NDDC has been a great help of which we are indeed grateful that the commission counts us worthy to benefit from these and other projects,” the monarch was quoted as saying. (NAN)