THE Federal Government recently inaugurated a new board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).NDDC is the agency charged with responsibility for ensuring deep socio-economic development in the creek communities of the Niger Delta region. However, the Commission has largely, not lived up to this mandate. To all intents and purposes, the region still wallows in chronic socio- economic deficits.Beset by internal squabbling and disagreements, non-performance by previous boards and management teams, in essence derailed the execution of crucial life-changing projects drawn up in the Commission's 2004 Master Plan.The last NDDC board and management team in particular, were unable to work together; their well publicised acrimonious relationship virtually grounded the Commission to a halt. A lot of energy was dissipated on petition-writing and settling incessant disputes. Ultimately, NDDC's failure to address the challenges, even at the most basic levels, in a region, where decades of oil exploitation and environmental degradation have made the living conditions miserable, and birthed a militant seed of discontent. The new board and management have their work cut out for them. Essentially, they must hit the ground running to rebuild and restore the confidence of the critical stakeholders in the region. They must eradicate years of disillusionment and despair and map out a clear route that will be strictly adhered to. Clearly-defined deliverables on short, medium and long term basis must be stated. The needs of the people and the desire to effect positive development against poverty in the region, should now take supreme priority. Good road networks, potable water, improved health care facilities, schools for rapid human capital development. Beyond physical infrastructure, the new Board must institutionalise relevant poverty-alleviation mechanisms to enhance accessibility to the schools and hospitals. Community-based initiatives must also be introduced to assist men,women and youths in gaining meaningful empowerment for wealth creation. The era of grandiose, meaningless projects and token interventions that are celebrated only in the media, and which do not have any direct impact in the communities, should be put behind. Therefore we advocate the development of a mechanism that will ensure strict monitoring of projects. Due Process must be the watchword for the new hands on deck. This will ensure that funds are not misapproriated and that contractors deliver value for money. Stiff penalties should also be institutionalised into the procurement system, to guard against failure to deliver quality projects that have been paid for, or for those who do not deliver to specifications. It is important the new board and management team, avoid errors of the past and site projects based on need, and not to score political points. Essentially, the Commission should exhume its Master Plan to achieve real and measurable sustainable development and growth. As members of the advisory board, the governors of the oil-producing states should regularly proffer quality advice and interactions that will serve the best interests of the Commission and lead to delivery of better services to the people. The NDDC should also strike a workable synergy with the Niger Delta Ministry. This will avoid previous complaints by the Ministry of, project duplication. We would like to remind NDDC that as a public sector agency, it should no longer allow itself to be utilised as a springboard for aspiring politicians, who rather than focus on their core duties at the Commission, spend more time pursuing personal ambition or causing political disaffection in communities. The new NDDC must remain above political sentiments, if it wants to achieve its goals. The NDDC should become visible by the robust and practical interventions and implementations which will change the lives of the people of the Niger Delta region. Years of neglect and disillusionment in the creek communities must be firmly addressed once and for all.
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