Buhari commissions NDDC hostel in Uyo varsity

*Vows to recover all stolen funds

*Mandates statutory contributors to remit funds to commission

From Atiku Sarki, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari recently virtually commissioned the 1,050-Bed Space Ultra-Mod­ern Hostel Complex, donated to the University of Uyo by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with a vow “to ensure every recoverable kobo, is recovered for use in ser­vice of the people of this region and those found culpable shall face the Law.”

He also mandated statutory con­tributors to ensure that all revenues ac­cruing to the commission is remitted transparently saying: “I want to use the opportunity of this commissioning to direct all statutory contributors to the NDDC to remit all outstanding funds to the Commission, and to ensure this is done transparently and according to laid down procedure and process.”

“This singular intervention dem­onstrates that NDDC understands the importance of government’s effort at improving the live indicated that the speaking and livelihoods of our police officers, in line with my directive that building of barracks for men and wom­en of the police force should be done in collaboration with the Special Housing effort of the Family Home funds.

“Today, we are here, again, to com­mission another important project com­pleted by the NDDC in 2021. When I directed the Minister of Niger Delta Af­fairs to institute a forensic audit of the Commission, after many representa­tions by major stakeholders in the Niger Delta, I had also directed that all viable projects which had been abandoned, but which would impact positively on the lives and livelihoods of the people, be immediately revived and completed.

“This ultramodern hostel complex, Uyo by NDDC, renews our confidence that the forensic audit, which has been completed and currently being reviewed for necessary action, had achieved one of its core objectives. That objective is to rebuild the NDDC into an agency that is well equipped and better placed to facilitate sustainable regional devel­opment in a transparent and impactful way.

“Across many of our public univer­sities and institutions of higher learning our children face accommodation chal­lenges. While private investors are tak­ing advantage of this gap to provide ac­commodation, unfortunately this often harshly tasks the resources of parents and guardians.

“This prototype university hostel consists of 1,050 bed spaces, 525 each for males and females, and is furnished to meet the needs of a university stu­dent. The complex also boasts of sig­nificant hard and soft infrastructure to ensure its sustainability and durability.

“The completion of this structure is equally in recognition of the impor­tance government attaches to providing quality housing and improved educa­tion for all Nigerians.

“Significant part of this success sto­ry is that it could easily not have hap­pened. The contract for this hostel was awarded as far back as 2004. It was one of many projects abandoned across the Niger Delta region, but which I direct­ed the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to expedi­tiously complete and put to use.

“The Niger Delta Development Commission needs to demonstrate that it can achieve the objectives it was con­ceived for and make its impact felt all over the Niger Delta Region.

“The lives of the people of the Ni­ger Delta could be so much better, if the funding received by this commis­sion since its inception, in Billions of Naira over the last 20 years, have been judiciously deployed in service of the people.

“The serial abuse, lack of delivery and what had become an entrenched in­stitutional decay, was the reason why I called for the Forensic Audit.

“Therefore, going forward we shall ensure every recoverable kobo, is re­covered for use in service of the people of this region and those found culpable shall face the law.

“Consequently, I want to use the opportunity of this commissioning to direct all statutory contributors to the NDDC to remit all outstanding funds to the Commission, and to ensure this is done transparently and according to laid down procedure and process.

“On this note, it is my singular honour and privilege to commission this complex, for the accommodation of students at the University of Uyo. Let me charge you to ensure that this edifice is properly maintained, for the benefit of the current students, who are the immediate beneficiaries, as well as those who will come after. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Thank you very much and God bless you all,” he said.

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator God­swill Akpabio, thanked the president for keeping to his promise of making the Niger Delta Region better than he met it.

He said: “We are today commis­sioning one of the projects hitherto abandoned by subsequent administra­tions. President Buhari’s commitment to bringing positive change to the Niger Delta region has led to the commission­ing of abandoned projects all over the region.

“Few months ago, we commissioned the headquarters of the NDDC that was abandoned, the SPU Quarters in Port Harcourt and several others scattered across the region. By next year, we will be commissioning the power project in Ese Odo in Ilaje, Ondo State among several other projects completed across the region.”

Speaking further, the former Sen­ate Minority Leader, called on all lov­ers of progress as demonstrated by the resolve of the president, to rally round him to do more for the region by giving him the needed support.

Akpabio said: “We are now at the verge of commissioning the second Niger Bridge which was conceived by previous administrations but aban­doned, but it has now been taken over by this administration and heading to­wards completion before President Bu­hari leaves office.”

In his welcome address, the Sole Administrator of the commission, Dr. Efiong Akwa, charged the students and the institution’s management to ensure that the facility is optimally maintained for longevity.

He said: “Let me also urge the stu­dents who will live here and use the facilities to understand the sacrifices made by all, particularly by govern­ment, to provide them with a better liv­ing abs learning environment.

“My dear students let me call on all of you to do all that must be done to main­tain this hostel complex. Own it. Make it yours. Be proud of it. Keep it well. “Prove with this that you are, in­deed, the promise and future of a better Niger Delta region for which the Niger Delta Development Commission was established.”