A prominent figure in the Niger Delta region, Nature Dumale, expressed his approval on Sunday of President Bola Tinubu’s decision to return the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the auspices of the Presidency.
Mr. Dumale, who serves as the National Secretary of the First Phase Ex-agitator and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Strategic Communication Committee, lauded this development in a statement released in Yenagoa.
“It is gratifying to know that the NDDC will now report directly to the President, similar to the North East Development Commission (NEDC),” exclaimed Mr. Dumale, adding, “This is like an answered prayer. In the past, I led a campaign for the commission to be directly supervised by the President for its positive impact.”
Mr. Dumale commended Tinubu for his decision, as it demonstrates his genuine commitment to revitalizing the NDDC and, in turn, the entire Niger Delta region.
He lamented that the Niger Delta region has endured a lack of development over the years due to individuals with insatiable greed converting various government interventions into personal gains.
“We, in the Niger Delta region, want to seize this opportunity to express our gratitude to Mr. President for his wisdom in returning the NDDC to the Presidency,” Mr. Dumale emphasized.
He further stated, “We believe that this move will expedite the region’s development and put an end to the culture of treating the Commission as a cash cow.”
According to Mr. Dumale, “This decision by the President signifies his sincere intentions to prioritize the Niger Delta region, backed by the political will to ensure proper oversight of the NDDC.”
“As ex-agitators, we can confidently say that the Niger Delta has suffered due to mismanagement. This move will foster accountability, transparency, and bring the much-anticipated development of the Niger Delta into fruition,” he noted.
“This step taken by Mr. President instills hope in us as leaders in the region. We believe that with the NDDC under the supervision of the Presidency, meaningful development will be facilitated,” Mr. Dumale asserted.
He further explained, “We only experienced some development when the NDDC was directly supervised by the Presidency. However, once it was transferred to the Ministry of Niger Delta, it became a source of wealth for the Niger Delta Cartel, whose sole objective is to keep the Niger Delta underdeveloped.”
Mr. Dumale also revealed that, in addition to the NDDC and PAP, there is a Niger Delta Recovery Plan (NDRP). This plan mandates the ministries of petroleum, environment, and Niger Delta affairs to collaborate in designing the region’s development strategies.
NAN
