FIC REPORT (IMO STATE) – Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has called on governors of the nine oil-producing states to strengthen collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to accelerate sustainable development across the region.
Uzodimma made the call at the NDDC Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) conference held at the Dr Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs Chinyere Ekomaru, said the Imo State Government would continue to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving the lives of citizens across Imo State and the Niger Delta.
He further stressed that stronger cooperation among the oil-producing states, the NDDC and other stakeholders was necessary to address the region’s developmental challenges and promote sustainable growth.
The Managing Director of the NDDC , Dr Samuel Ogbuku, while speaking, described stakeholder engagement as a critical component of the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that effective engagement was necessary to ensure that government programmes and projects were properly understood and supported by the people.
According to him, building trust among stakeholders remained essential to securing their confidence and support for the Commission’s programmes.
Dr. Ogbuku said the NDDC had put in place processes aimed at establishing a new institutional culture based on sound ethics, accountability and good corporate governance.
He noted that the Commission had a responsibility to harness the resources, expertise and support of its various stakeholders to achieve its development objectives.
The NDDC managing director further disclosed that KPMG, a global business consultancy, had reviewed the Commission’s processes, adding that the review had contributed to the establishment of a strengthened corporate governance framework designed to promote accountability and transparency, with clearly defined and measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for monitoring the Commission’s performance.
Dr. Ogbuku said the NDDC’s emphasis on collaboration was consistent with President Tinubu’s policy of carrying stakeholders along in the implementation of development programmes and legacy projects in the Niger Delta noting that sustained engagement would enable the Commission to build stronger partnerships, harness collective strengths, address challenges and prevent duplication of efforts.
The Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, earlier in his remarks, mentioned that the Commission had endorsed a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and Governance Advisory Policies approved by completion of development projects across the Niger Delta.
Also present at the conference was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to strengthening oversight to promote transparency, efficiency and the timely delivery of projects across the region.
CHIOMA AKUSHIE.
FIC. OWERRI
