Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has called on the stakeholders to rally and give more support to the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in order to address the challenges facing the Niger Delta region of the country.

He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its commitment to the development of the region by ensuring that the NDDC received the needed support to deliver its mandate.

Aiyedatiwa stated this on Sunday, at the thanksgiving service to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the NDDC which was held at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

According to him, the Commission had made significant impacts in the development of the mandate areas, but said much still needed to be done, hence the call for more collaboration.

He said: “Let me use this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to Mr. President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his unwavering commitment to the development of the Niger Delta region. His interest in the NDDC and its activities has been more than passing, and we appreciate his leadership in ensuring that the commission receives the support it needs to deliver on its mandate.

“As we celebrate the silver jubilee of the NDDC, it is imperative that we acknowledge the progress we have made and also recognise that there is still much work to be done as the Niger Delta region continues to face significant development challenges and we must work together to address these issues.

“I urge the NDDC to continue to improve on its activities, ensuring that projects are tailored to the needs of the communities we serve. Let us work together to unlock the potential of our region, promote economic growth and enhance the lives of our people. We are partners in progress, unity and development.”

Governor Ayedatiwa commended the NDDC board and management for their outstanding work. He lauded the representatives of the state on the board of commission for their dedication, saying, “I look forward to continued collaboration and progress in the years ahead.”

In his remark, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the DDC, stated that the commission had undertaken major road construction and rehabilitation projects to improve connectivity and accessibility in the Niger Delta region.

He noted that the commission had prioritised youth empowerment through training programs, educational scholarships, and capacity-building workshops to equip the local workforce with necessary skills.

“Ondo State was chosen for the anniversary because of its principle, which believes that ‘Work is the Antidote for Poverty’. We are also here to spread the dividends of renewed hope. We have been accountable and we will be accountable at the end of our tenure,” the MD said.