The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has been applauded for making commensurate and immeasurable contributions in its areas of intervention over the past 25 years.
His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, the Asagba of Asaba, gave the commendation when the Board and management of the federal interventionist agency paid him a courtesy visit.
Asagba Prof Azinge noted that the NDDC had popularized itself with significant achievements and accomplishments in infrastructure and human capital development across the nine mandate states in the past 25 years of its existence.
He paid tribute to those who had walked the path of the Commission in the past and the current Board and management for their individual and collective efforts to successfully drive the vision and mission of the agency.
The highly revered traditional ruler sought the intervention of the Commission in the construction of the Asagba of Asaba permanent palace building, flooding on the highway, amongst others.
He said, “Firstly, Managing Director, I’m sure as you criss-crosses your way to this Ogwa Ukwu Ahaba, you would have noticed that we are still contending with the issue of flooding on our highways. We also have some of our children who are interested in building up their capacity and we know certainly that the period of interregnum this Board and this management has reopened this training facility for people that want to pursue postgraduate education abroad, and I’m very happy that you have reopened and revitalized this process. We also have some of our young ones who are interested in that regard.
“But Managing Director, the major area of intervention for us is the issue of the palace of the Asagba of Asaba that is under construction. We have pursued this with missionary zeal. Long before I became the Asagba, as President General of the Asagba Development Union, we were on that cause, and we were even hoping that possibly the whole work would have been done by the NDDC because then we had people that were in a position to push on our behalf. The likes of Senator Peter Nwaoboshi and Senator Godswill Akpabio, when he was the Minister directly in charge. They all gave me firm assurance then.
“Today it’s totally a different kettle of fish and I know that we cannot overburden the Chairman because he is one of us. The ball stops on the table of the Managing Director, and Managing Director, on behalf of the Asaba community, I want to urge you to look into that request of Asaba people to see how you can make a meaningful contribution; we are not saying that you should take on it completely, but considering the position of Asaba in the scheme of things and considering that you are here today for this purpose, let it just be the contribution you can make; I bet you, our people will appreciate that better than the bottle of drinks that you have put on our table”.
His Royal Majesty thanked the Commission for choosing Asaba for its world press conference and premiering of its movie documentary, assuring the visitors that they would enjoy the peace, security and serene environment in the capital city, as well as the hospitality of Asaba people.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, on behalf of the Board, management and staff of the Commission, congratulated Asagba Prof Azinge on his coronation as the 14th Asagba of Asaba, describing him as a highly revered and distinguished personality.
Mr. Ebie, a former Secretary to the Government of Delta State, said the NDDC had remained committed to delivering its interventionist mandate, pointing out that the Commission, which was established in the year 2000, was in Asaba for a world press conference and premiering of a movie documentary to mark its 25th anniversary.
“Your Majesty, we are here in Asaba for our 25th anniversary after which we will proceed to Owerri to continue with the activities and then end up in Port-Harcourt. Coming into Asaba, we decided that, in line with custom and tradition, we can’t come to your domain without first visiting to pay you homage. That is why we are here, and for you to see your former student, now the Chairman of NDDC”, he concluded.
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