Business
N’Delta Development, My Priority -NDDC Boss
The managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Chibuzor Ogwuoha has said that the Niger Delta region is in dire need of development and that he was poised to institute structures to positively change in the peoples standard of living.
This was the pledge made by the new NDDC Managing Director at a reception organised in his honour by the Senator representing Rivers west Senatorial district, Senator Wilson Asinobiake at his Apo Legislative quarters’ residence over the weekend in Abuja.
President Yar’Adua inaugurated the NDDC Board at the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Friday, with AirVice Marshall Larry Konya (Rtd) as Chairman and Mr. Ogwuoha as Managing Director.
Konya, from Bayelsa State was a former Chairman of the Directorate of Food, Roads and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) under the defunct General Ibrahim Babangida regime while Ogwuoha who hails from Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers was the Community Relations Manager of ELF.
Speaking at the colourful and well-attended reception, Mr. Ogwuoha said his emergence as the Managing Director of NDDC was the handwork of God and ‘not by might, not by power, not by money; while pledging to emulate Jesus Christ in his administration of the Commission.
According to him, “I can draw inspiration from Jesus Christ who washed the disciples’ feet and say leaders should do likewise”, knowing that the task before him is not an easy one.
He called on the people of the Niger-Delta to support him and his team in executing the task before them, noting that it is not his responsibility alone but that of the entire people of the oil rich region.
“If a Leader is leading and the people are not going along with him, he would not achieve much (but) if all of us agree to move, even the greatest mountains, we will pull down”, he said.
Ogwuoha who believes that there can’t be meaningful development in the region in the absence of peace gave the people of the region a charge on the need to keep the peace so that development could thrive in the next four years of his administration of NDDC.
His words: “I believe that all hands (in the region) must be on deck. We must be able to go back to our communities and tell them (that) where there’s no peace, there can’t be development. You need to buy into the programme of development, then what you’re expecting, you will get more than that”.
Noting that Niger Delta is not the worst place on earth, the new NDDC boss recalled that in the past the region recorded giant strides in food production and was self-sufficient, tasked the region to return to agriculture and feed the people as well as emerge as the nation’s food basket, adding, it was known in the past.
“I know it’s going to be an Herculean task, it’s going to be very difficult but one thing is obvious, if all of us agree to do it together, we will get there”, he said.
He continued “I believe very strongly that the Niger Delta of the past fed our people and that Niger Delta shall feed our people again. We are blessed, we can still make Niger Delta the food basket. Let us all begin to think on how to begin to add value to what we have”.
Ogwuoha challenged prominent sons and daughters of Niger Delta, particularly those from Rivers State and Ogbaland in particular to establish factories that could produce things like pure water, tissue and paper in their localities to engender development since “we cannot all be in oil companies”.
The Managing Director further thanked all those who contributed in no small way in making his new status possible, especially Senator Ake, recalling that “the journey was not an easy one, those who are at the corridor of power know all they went through
… if it is money, I will not be standing before you as the Managing Director of NDDC, I know some people who spent money to get this position but they didn’t succeed”.
“It’s time for us to move forward. With your support, we know we’ll get there. It’s not Chibuzor Ogwuoha that is there, (as NDDC MD) all of us are there. I believe with your commitment, there will be development in Niger Delta and Nigeria .. You’ll help me to succeed,” he emphasised.
The Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), the country’s satellite operator, has called for immediate promolgation of policy action that will enable the country to harness the potentials of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
NIGCOMSAT, also warned that Nigeria risks missing out on Africa’s projected $1.2trillion share of the global AI economy by 2030.
Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, disclosed this in a statement issued at the weekend following her participation in the Meeting of the National Council for Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
“Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, economies, and societies worldwide, with projections that it will contribute up to $15.7trillion to the global economy by 2030. Africa stands to gain $1.2trillion of this if the right policies and innovations are in place”, Idehen said, citing a PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The NIGCOMSAT MD underscored the transformative potential of AI in agriculture, highlighting its applicability in Benue State, widely regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket.”
According to her, machine learning tools could revolutionize agricultural practices by improving pest detection and optimizing planting schedules using satellite imagery.
“AI offers us the chance to not only flourish economically but also to achieve food security. However, we must ask ourselves if we are prepared to manage this technology responsibly”, she added.
Idehen also noted that internet access remains a significant barrier to AI adoption in Nigeria.
“For AI tools to be effective, basic digital infrastructure is essential. Addressing this gap must be a priority.
“AI is happening. We have the opportunity to manage this technology revolution responsibly, both in Africa and globally, through innovation and governance”, she said.
In August 2024, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy released a draft National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, aiming to position Nigeria as a global leader in AI.
Corlins Walter
The Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council, Chief David Omereji, has said the council has so far spent over N1 billion for the electrification of communities in the area.
Omereji said this while addressing staff of the council at the council headquarters recently.
He said the move was part of his administration’s resolve to ensure peace and development of the LGA.
According to him, the Council spent about N29 million on monthly basis for the maintenance of the Emohua Local Vigilante group known as OSPAC, with each member being paid a stipend of N100, 000 monthly.
He diaclosed that 11 out of the 14 wards are currently enjoying electricity, while efforts are on to light-up the remaining ones.
“I also want to use this opportunity to inform the political class for purposes of records and for the understanding of the people that the Council under my watch have done more than enough”, he said .
The Emolga boss explained that all that have been achieved were through the personal effort of the Council, without support from anybody as rumoured in some quarters.
Omereji further reaveled that a number of other projects, including roads, fencing of schools, hospitals, courts premises, and reconstruction of some abandoned buildings at the Council Headquarters are being undertaken by his administration.
He enjoined the people of the area to support his administration’s drive to bring purposeful development to the LGA.
The Emohua Council boss, who reiterated his hatred for noise making, stated that his works would speak for him, and solicited the support of staff of the council and the entire people of the area.
He noted the fact that some people may not be happy with his achievements, saying that he would remain focused, while advising critics of his government to do so constructively with facts and figures.
King Onunwor
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has raised some ethical questions over a Financial and Technical Services Agreement (FTSA) between Sahara Energy and West African Gas Limited (WAGL), an affiliate of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).
MOSOP said the agreement was not done in good faith, not in the interest of the Nigerian people, and did not follow due process.
Foremost Ogoni born activist and MOSOP leader, Fegalo Nsuke, who made this known in Abuja, weekend, described the Sahara-WAGL deal as fraudulent, deceptive and an insult on the intelligence and integrity of the Nigerian nation.
Nsuke called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to cancel that FTSA between Sahara Energy and WAGL, noting that the agreement is fraught with irregularities and deceptive.
“What Sahara and the NNPC did in the FTSA between Sahara and WAGL is shameful and depicts high level corruption in public service of our country.
“WAGL is an affiliate of Sahara and the NNPC. How then can Sahara go into an agreement with its own affiliate? It’s as good as going into an agreement with itself. This is deceptive and fraudulent”, Nsuke said.
He continued that “Sahara Energy is certainly not a company the Ogoni people want on their soil and we are calling on Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to terminate any deal between the NNPC and Sahara Energy over OML 11, and to allow for an inclusive arrangement that considers a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in the distribution of revenues from natural resource extraction on Ogoni soil.
“The last Ogoni Congress has been unequivocal on the Ogoni demand for justice and has given a clear path to resolve the three decade old conflict between all critical parties.
“It will be good to explore this path to peace and development for Ogoni and for our country”.
Nsuke accused Sahara Energy and the NNPC of frustrating the progress made by MOSOP to achieve a permanent solution to the Ogoni problem.
He urged a presidential intervention with deep consideration for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in order to permanently address the problem.
He noted that Sahara Energy should give up on the Ogoni area to allow for an engagement in the interest of the country and the people.
Recall that MOSOP and Sagara Energy have recently been engaged in a row in what MOSOP describes as an unholy relationship between Sahara Energy and the NNPC over OML 11.
MOSOP expressly rejected Sahara Energy and called for a fair treatment of the Ogoni people in natural resource extraction in Ogoni.
It noted that Ogoni people, led by MOSOP, paid the sacrifice to take the oil from Shell, hence “the position of MOSOP must be taken into consideration in decisions relating to resumption of oil production in Ogoni”.
