In a proactive measure aimed at cushioning the suffering residents of flood prone areas in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States would likely face in the event of the imminent flood, the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) has set up emergency shelters in the states to accommodate the people that would be displaced.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku disclosed this at a press conference Tuesday at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt , Rivers State.
He said the choice of the three states was arrived at because they are the worst affected states whenever flooding occurs in the region.
The MD further said that each of the benefiting states has two of such shelters with provisions for schools and hostels for the school children so that their academic activities would not be disrupted by the vagaries of the flood.
He said the shelters were conceived to serve as camps and multi- purpose complexes for other engagements even after the flood might have receded
The MD informed that as it is customary with the commission, it would also assist flood victims across the region with relief materials.
He added that the commission would equally ensure that parts the East-West Road usually affected by the flood would be kept motorable within the flooding period. He said the contractors handling the emergency rehabilitation of the road had been kept on standby on the orders of the commission for that purpose
Read also: Northern Governors sound alarm over devastating floods in Northern Nigeria
The Managing Director disclosed that at the close of the portal on 31 August 2024 for the youth internship scheme being floated by the commission, over 2 million applications were recorded on the portal even when only 10,000 applicants would be eventually absorbed.
He ,however, assured that the selection process would be transparent and strictly on merit, adding that majority of the applicants chose agriculture as their area of interest.
The NDDC Chief Executive said that 200 students from the region would benefit from the next batch of the commission’s overseas post graduate scholarship, saying the number is the highest since the inception of the program.
He said the NDDC board is thinking with the idea to also float a scholarship program for the under graduates even if in local universities.
At the primary and secondary school levels, the MD said the commission had procured 45,000 e- learning tablets fitted with instructional materials for distribution to selected schools in the region . This according to him is aside from text books that would be distributed free to the schools in remote areas who may not benefit from the e-learning tablets.
The MD announced with glee the passage of the commission’ s 2024 budget by both chambers of the National Assembly awaiting harmonization by both chambers.
He said what is outstanding in the budget is the approval of N 1 trillion for the completion of big ticket projects of the commission abandoned over the years. Such projects according to him include Okrika/Borokiri road and bridges in Rivers State, the Ataba bridge in Rivers State, Sampou- East-West- Ogba/Egbema road, the Bonny Link Road, among others.
The MD used the occasion to dismiss insinuations in some quarters that his tenure as MD has ended.
He described those floating the narrative as enemies of the Niger Delta, stressing that the NDDC Act in section 3 (2) has a provision for a renewable tenure after the the first term..
He maintained that he is running his second term of four years on the slot for Bayelsa as approved by President Bola Tinubu, adding that it is only the president who appointed him that has power to remove him.
