The Niger Delta Improvement Fee has introduced plans to construct six multi-purpose emergency shelters in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states for Internally Displaced Individuals, in preparation for the anticipated floods within the Niger Delta area.
The Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this at a press convention on the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday afternoon.
Ogbuku defined that the initiative is a part of proactive measures to alleviate the affect of recurring floods within the area. He famous that the undertaking was conceived in response to the frequent flooding challenges confronted within the space, and the amenities on the emergency shelters would come with important facilities reminiscent of a college, hospital, cafeteria, police put up, and recreation centre.
The NDDC Chief Govt Officer additional said that these amenities would offer complete help to communities in occasions of misery.
“We have now six of those amenities at the moment beneath development in Otuokpoti and Odi in Bayelsa State, whereas those in Delta State are being in-built Patani and Ozorro, with one other two in Rivers State,” Ogbuku stated.
He assured that the interventionist company would intensify its efforts to light up communities throughout the 9 states of the Niger Delta with solar-powered road lights, as a part of measures to fight criminality and keep peace within the area.
Ogbuku expressed satisfaction with the constructive affect of the “Mild Up the Niger Delta” marketing campaign, which he noticed had diminished felony exercise in varied communities and enhanced industrial actions in these areas.
He said, “We determined to undertake a clear power strategy which not solely supplies mild but in addition helps mitigate the results of local weather change on our surroundings.”
Relating to the Fee’s youth empowerment programmes, he introduced that the Holistic Alternatives Programme of Engagement (HOPE) could be launched on the finish of this month in Port Harcourt.
Discussing the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme, Ogbuku affirmed that entrepreneurial and expertise enhancement had been key elements for unlocking the potential of the youth within the Niger Delta area.
He stated that the target was to allow younger individuals to amass significant and self-sustaining expertise that might enhance their lives, help their households and communities, and thus guarantee peace within the area.
Within the space of entrepreneurship, Ogbuku famous that the NDDC, by means of the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, had streamlined help for farmers and verified entrepreneurs within the area.
He added, “Expertise is vital to the way forward for the Niger Delta. As know-how evolves, it’s sensible to adapt and put together for the longer term. We’re able to collaborate with related organisations to offer a coaching platform for our youth.
“We have to construct our youth and our youngsters as effectively. We have now acquired 45,000 U-Lesson tablets for distribution to varsities for using our youngsters. We are going to quickly launch these tablets and deploy them to varsities throughout the area.
“These U-Lesson tablets can be distributed to varsities with authorities oversight. They won’t be given to people as a result of the aim is to make sure that extra individuals, particularly the underprivileged, profit and increase their schooling.”
Ogbuku listed a number of the NDDC’s achievements, notably in finishing and inaugurating impactful tasks throughout the 9 states of the Niger Delta area.
He talked about the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe highway, executed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Improvement Firm (SPDC), and the commissioning of the 132KV Transmission Line and 132KV/33KV electrical energy substation at Okitipupa, which serves over 2,000 communities in southern Ondo State. Equally, one other 1×15 MVA 33/11 KVA injection substation was inaugurated in Amufi, Edo State.
Additional, he famous, “In Akwa Ibom State, we commissioned the 600-metre Ibeno Bridge and the 6.87-kilometre Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-IwuoAchang Highway in Ibeno Native Authorities Space. This N10 billion virgin highway undertaking hyperlinks 20 communities beforehand separated by the Qua Iboe River.
“In Abia State, we commissioned the Obehie to Oke Ikpe highway, reconstructed for N3.5 billion. This nine-kilometre highway restores the hyperlink between Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.”