The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has lauded the new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission for its ongoing moves to revive the abandoned road network linking Warri kingdom with Escravos, the major hub of oil and gas activities in Delta State.
The monarch made the remarks while hosting the new NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, paid him a working visit at the royal palace in Warri on Thursday.
The NDDC boss had solicited the monarch’s support in the execution of the commission’s newly-formulated Public Private Partnership initiative aimed at fast-tracking infrastructural development of the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC managing director, who noted that Warri kingdom is the hub of oil and gas activities in the region, lamented that “Warri has become a shadow of itself since most of the oil companies and IOCs left due to crises in the area”.
Ogubuku disclosed that the new board has resolved to change the ugly narratives by linking up to the deep seas where most of the IOCs have moved their operations to, “so that we can also benefit from whatever that comes from those IOCs”.
Consequently, he said the NDDC plans to complete the abandoned road project that connects Warri Kingdom to Escravos, the centre of activities of the oil and gas stakeholders in Delta.
He said, “We are aware that NDDC had initially awarded two projects which are the Omadena-Escravos road Phase One and the Ogoyi-Koko road Phase Two. We believe that these projects could be resuscitated under our PPP. We are also willing to partner with the Delta State Government and Chevron to see how these projects could be completed for the benefit of the people of Delta State.
“We believe that if these roads are completed, definitely the commercial activities in Warri will also boom. And surely, the capital flight that moves from Escravos to Lagos will also be curtailed in view of the present situation whereby the IOCs fly their staff with choppers back to Lagos and back to Escravos. If the roads are completed, we believe those monies will be domiciled here, and that is what we stand for, that is, improving on our commerce and other things.”
According to the NDDC boss, the new board is resolute on the PPP initiative to ensure that the development in the region is expanded.
“Today, our doors and windows are open to so many institutions who are willing to partner with us to ensure the Niger Delta is developed”, he said.
Ogbuku urged the monarch to support the board on the PPP initiative by reaching out to prospective stakeholders “to let them understand that NDDC is willing to partner with them, particularly to ensure the completion of the abandoned roads”.
“The success of the partnership is highly desirable to ensure that Warri kingdom regains its lost glory,” he said.
Responding, the Olu of Warri assured the NDDC boss of royal support in the task ahead, saying “you should count me as your number one advocate”.
“I am an ardent believer in anything that concerns the development and that if you get the Niger Delta working, Nigeria will work to unprecedented heights. I believe in that a thousand percent.
“We will do all that we can speak to all prospective stakeholders to actualize the success of the PPP as allocations alone cannot take us to the desired level,” the monarch said.
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