Ifeoma Osigwe
Yenagoa
Dr Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), at the weekend visited Sangana community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa which was recently devastated by ocean surge.
President Bola Tinubu had ordered a quick intervention by NDDC to the community.
Speaking during the visit, Ogbuku described the surge as one of the worst ecological disasters in the Niger Delta region
Accompanied by the Executive Director Project at the NDDC, Sir Victor Antai and other relevant Directors of the commission, Ogbuku, said that the essence of the visit, was to do an on-the-spot assessment of the level of devastation, as well as donate relief materials for the immediate needs of the people who were displaced by the ocean surge.
According to him the President was happy with the people of the community because of its economic importance and the sustained peace over the years which created the enabling environment for oil exploration and exploitation activities.
Igbuku, while urging the people of Sagana community to continue to maintain the peace in order to attract development, noted that development could only take place in a peaceful community.
He assured them that the NDDC was going to use the best modern technology to tackle the Sangana erosion scourge.
The NDDC boss also used the opportunity to call on the multi-national oil companies operating in area to join hands in addressing the persistent ocean surge in the communities, saying NDDC would not do it alone.
The MD also told the people of Sangana community that he felt elated at the presidential directive which indicated that the country has a very responsible President who was interested in the welfare of the people, no matter how far they are.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a caring leader who has the interest of his people at heart.
He said: “Before your letter of appeal arrived our head office in Port Harcourt, the ocean surge in Sagana was already publicized in the media, The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saw it and directed that we must come and see what is happening in Sagana and give him feedback.
“My presence in your community, apart from being a son of the soil, is in response to Mr. President’s directive and haven witnessed first-hand the devastation in your community, we will proceed immediately to see how we can salvage the situation.
“We had earlier awarded the contract for shore protection in your community, but we are going to review it. The whole idea in NDDC is that we are also looking at new technology such Geotube system. The system is also used in rebuilding and reclaiming the land naturally.
“Haven ascertained the situation on ground, we will go back and put the papers together and also see how we can partner with the state government and the International Oil Companies (IOC’s) to see how we can all come together to ensure that we protect our communities.”
Responding, the Chairman of the Sangana Council of Traditional Rulers, King Moses Theophilus Kenibara VII, Amadabo of Moko-Ama Sangana, thanked President Bola Tinubu for the love showered on the people of Sangana community.
He also thank Mr. President for appointing their son from Bayelsa State as the Managing Director of NDDC and assured that the people of the community would continue to maintain the peace and cooporation with government for the development of the country.
A former Chairman of Brass Local Government Area and a community leader, Mr Bello Bina, thanked the NDDC Managing, for personally finding time to visit the community.
He commended him for being proactive adding that the people of Sangana were overwhelmed with the presentation of the relief materials which is worth hundreds of millions of naira.
