Tony John, Port Harcourt
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has called on the Federal Government to initiate the process of constituting a substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) that would perform all the functions provided by law as the tenure of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Commission winds to an end in December.
MOSOP made the call in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Bari-ara Kpalap, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Thursday.
The group said the call has become necessary in view of the fact that, because the current arrangement is interim, their functions were limited. Hence, communities covered by the NDDC are denied valuable opportunities and benefits.
MOSOP maintained that with a substantive board of the Commission with full powers, it would increase peace and security in the Niger Delta region.
‘It is for this reason that we would suggest a reconsideration of earlier nominations to accelerate the completion of the process when embarked upon.
‘In view of development challenges faced by local communities, which, NDDC intervention would have addressed, constituting a substantive leadership of the agency with full powers would not only enhance opportunities for the people but would also increase peace and security in the communities.
‘For now, these benefits are missing; hence, we would once more, entreat the Nigerian regime to consider constituting the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission as soon as the tenure of the IMC expires,’ MOSOP stated.