Admin l Wednesday, July 28, 2021
PORT HARCOURT, Rivers – The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, will tomorrow flag off the construction of an International Bush Meat Market and Motor Park in collaboration with the Ikwerre Local Government Council in Omagwa, near the Port Harcourt International Airport.
This was made known by the NDDC Interim Administrator, Mr Efiong Akwa, during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Ikwere Local Government Council, led by its Chairman, Engr. Samuel Nwanosike, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Akwa commended the Local Government Chairman for initiating the market project and urged other local governments to take a cue from the Ikwere Local Council.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer remarked that the market would help to relocate traders and businessmen from the busy Port Harcourt-Owerri Road. He added: “It is part of our corporate social responsibility and I am excited by the project because it will impact positively on the lives of our people.”
Akwa assured that the NDDC would not relent in executing intervention projects that would hasten the development of the Niger Delta region.
He said: “We have just completed the construction of 64-flats for the police special unit in Omagwa and the communities in the area cooperated fully with our contractors. In a couple of weeks, we will commission the residential quarters and administrative block for security personnel in Rivers State.
“I commend the Ikwerre Local Government for protecting the project even when the contractors temporarily left the site. The investment is going to help in improving security in the communities around the airport, as well as enhance the security of the Port Harcourt International Airport and add value to the economic and social life in the area.”
Akwa said that the International Market would benefit the entire Niger Delta region, stating that it was always important to get the host communities to buy into NDDC projects to avoid cases of abandonment or lack of maintenance.
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Engr. Samuel Nwanosike, told the NDDC boss that the Council had come to share its vision on developing rural communities and re-writing the story of the Niger Delta region.
He said that the Council was very eager to embark on the project in collaboration with the NDDC to help in boosting economic activities in the Omagwa area, expressing optimism that after the flag off ceremony on Thursday, the project would be completed within 40 days.
He said: “The Interim Administrator has made our dream to come true. The NDDC has shown that it has the interest of the people at heart. This is a good legacy for our people in the local government area and I thank President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the interim management in NDDC.”
Engr. Nwanosike lauded the NDDC for ensuring that the bid process for the project was transparent and acknowledged that NDDC was taking care of 60 per cent of the total cost.
