NDDC uncovers medical boats meant for River State Communities

PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria – The Gbene Dr Joi Nunieh led interim management of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) said it has uncovered two medical boats in the warhouse of the commission.

The Acting MD made the revelation when she paid a courtesy visit to Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyeson Wike. Dr Joi Nunieh told the governor that the boats were meant for communities in Rivers State, adding that the NDDC is waiting for the state government to collect them.

Nunieh said that the NDDC would like to work with the medical team in the state ministry of health to manage the primary health centres in the rural communities and give the rural people access to medical services.

She told the governor that NDDC had built comprehensive health centres at Eneka in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area but regretted that it was illegally occupied and vandalised. A similar fate, she said befell other cottage hospitals built by the Commission in Eleme and Ogba-Egbema Local Government areas.

The NDDC boss appealed to the governor to encourage a collaboration between the Commission and the Rivers State Government. She observed: “We have just inspected one of our warehouses and we found two medical boats that were meant for communities in Rivers State. They are waiting to be collected by the state government.” 

The NDDC Acting MD was accompanied to the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, by members of the new management, led by the NDDC Acting Managing Director, Gbene Dr Joi Nunieh. The NDDC Chief Executive Officer was accompanied by the Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chief Ibanga Bassey Etang; the Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh and other directors of the Commission.

While receiving the NDDC team, Governor Nyesome Wike congratulated members of the Management Committee, stating: “As a true Rivers person, I cannot do anything that is against the interest of Rivers State. Political affiliations come secondary. What matters to me is the development of Rivers State.

“The Members of the Interim Management Committee are all from the Niger Delta region. So why can’t we support them.”

He declared: “The governors of the Niger Delta States met with Mr. President. We told him that there must be a surgical operation in NDDC. So we support the forensic audit as ordered by the President.”

The Rivers State Governor said that the fight over political appointments by Niger Delta people was unnecessary, noting that what the people need was development. “I feel ashamed that our people cannot come together and agree on development strategies,” he said.

Wike stated: “The appointment of the Interim Management is purely an executive function. There is no reason for our people to be fighting over it. I will protect anything that has to do with Rivers State. I will not support anybody asking that the Interim Management Committee should be removed.”

He advised: “If you have the capacity and the political will, you can right the wrongs in the NDDC. I urge you to use this opportunity given to you to put NDDC on the right track.”

Governor Wike said that the founding fathers of NDDC had lofty goals for the development of the region but regretted that the Commission was yet to achieve set objectives.

He charged the Commission to embark on legacy project in the region in partnership with state governments.