When the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in the year 2000 by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, it was the belief of many that the Commission will come in to serve wholeheartedly the interests of the Niger Delta People as a unit and Nigeria as a nation. With nine states in its geographic location, followers of the restive natives of the region had believed that, indeed, the component states of the region will be able to boast of good road networks, improved infrastructures, improved/qualitative education and improved standard of living.
These was also enough and great expectations from this NDDC which was pioneered by Engr. Godwin Omene as the MD/CEO. They did theirs to an extent successfully. They delivered with the resources available to them and the ideas they had in mind, some aspect or sectors of the Niger Delta region became alive, these was a remarkable improvement in the living conditions and standards of the Niger Delta people. Even though there were some challenges and some elements of hardship where residents felt highly cheated and marginalized, living conditions were better off then.
For some inexplicable reasons, there was still the need to improve upon. There was the need for the successive leadership of NDDC to improve upon what its predecessors did. It was obvious that apart from improvement in infrastructures and some others, there was the need for NDDC and its key players to diversify into certain areas and projects.
The Commission had also had its own share of being in the news sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad reasons. But at all times it has always been able to live above board. A lot of mistakes done and a lot of them have been corrected, but sadly, it appears the NDDC about thirteen years after establishment, is a work in progress. I regard it a work in progress because there are more works needed to be done. To this end, I make bold to illustrate that the NDDC needs a man of integrity, a man of wisdom and one who understands the intricacies of the Commission to dot its I’s and cross it’s T’s. Understanding effectiveness here is an integral aspect and part of it. That is why when President Goodluck Jonathan submitted the name of Sir (Barr) Bassey Dan Abia, KJW to the Nigerian Senate for screening and subsequent confirmation as the next Managing Director/CEO of NDDC, the ovation that greeted it from many sincere Nigerians was understood. Even though some players and politicians from some areas attempted to raise issues out of nothing, the general appreciation from the people of the Niger Delta Region was enough to dwarf the ill-conceived protest by a few miscreants. It is perhaps trite to say that President Goodluck Jonathan understood the positives by going for the best man, Sir Abia who had served earlier on the board of the NDDC as a Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom State and had left a remarkable legacy that is yet to be matched by a Commissioner who had served in that capacity before.
These sterling qualities, excellent contributions to discourses on both issues bordering the Niger Delta Region and his giant strides in the NDDC saw him rose to the position of the acting Chairman of the Commission some years back. Abia’s meritorious and steady rise in his NDDC calling suggest that, indeed, given time and his now new calling, the Niger Deltans and Nigerians will have a lot to celebrate when Abia has finally settled down to work. There is no gain saying that Abia merited this appointment. Indeed, his is a call to serve.
However, Niger Deltans have always demanded an explanation as to how their resources are spent. They have always sought to be involved in the process of their local governance. These requests are not much or difficult to be granted. But it can only be done by a team player. As things stand, and with the ongoing agenda of the transformation of the country currently being embarked upon by the president, Abia’s choice becomes justified, he remains one that will quench the thirst and satisfy the hunger of the Niger Delta people.
He is all encompassing, all embracing, honest, courageous and well-mannered in his dealings with fellow men. One thing working for Abia is his ability to work and deliver effective results even under severe pressure. His charismatic disposition attracts development to the society. Those who have come across him and who have ever had any dealings with him can testify that he is always thinking and working towards the growth of the Niger Delta Region, her people and Nigeria in general. It is instructive to note and explain very clearly here that rather than sit and cast unnecessary aspersions and oppose the appointment of Abia, doubting Thomases’ should rather encourage him to achieve more for the region and the country. They should embrace and live in peace if development is to be seen which is what Sir Abia represents. There is nothing wrong with the President choosing Abia as the Oga of the NDDC; the people of the Niger Delta deserve a leadership in this mould: a man who will understand that politics should wait for the Niger Delta Region to be developed beyond what it is today.
As a matter of fact, what is being proposed here is a closure of ranks, a management of interests and a thought for the Niger Delta Region. There is nothing bad if all those who had wanted to head the NDDC as MD/CEO could come together and suggest what they think should be done to continue the growth of the Commission. Their insistence on sitting outside to cry foul and create unnecessary challenge where there is none is quite unfortunate.
There are a thousand and more reasons why Sir (Barr) Dan Abia’s appointment as the MD/CEO of the NDDC will benefit Nigerians. He is an administrator par excellence; a man with an eye for details and one who believes that hard work is the soul of every responsibility. NDDC is an institution that needs people of strong will and strong minds. Abia has maturity beyond his age and this position fits him. Abia is not new to service. He has served Akwa Ibom State as an Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. The legacy, footprints and landmarks he left behind are yet to be matched in the State. Abia has also served in the Board of the NDDC as a Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom State - a position he used to attract meaningful and life-toughing projects to the State. Some NDDC projects like road construction and rehabilitation, provision of transformers to communities which hitherto had no source of electricity. Also pipe-borne water was made available and the impact of Abia’s NDDC commissionership was felt all over the state. That was not all; it has always been Abia’s belief that education is the bedrock of any society.
Abia invested in humans. He instituted a scholarship scheme were a greater percentage of students from the region benefitted immensely from and can attest to this fact.
Abia also did intervene in the construction of bridges across the state to encourage trade and communication between and or among communities. He also understood the need for a peaceful society, hence, his role in brokering peace in the once volatile region. He was at the forefront of Niger Delta leaders that were always appealing to the restive youths to embrace the amnesty offer of the Federal Government.
In terms of human empowerment, Abia’s role here cannot be overemphasized. He believes in the words of Socrates that “the best way to develop the society is to develop the man who will in turn develop the society”. Abia has touched many lives across the state and the Niger Delta Region. The new MD/CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission has been one of the driving forces of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s Uncommon Transformation Agenda in Akwa Ibom State.
When Governor Godswill Akpabio returned in 2011 to begin his second term, he found Abia fit to serve alongside with him. He invited Abia to serve with him and assigned him to the Ministry of Transport as the Commissioner. Within few months in office, Abia was able to restore sanity to the transport sector of Akwa Ibom State. Rampant cases of tricycles and motorists robbing innocent passengers, citizens and residents in the state came to a complete halt because of the policies that were introduced to curb these crimes by the Abia’s intervention. The issue of registration of vehicles was strictly followed and today transportation challenges in Akwa Ibom state has been confined to the dustbin of history.
Apart from serving the Akpabio’s administration as a Commissioner for Transport, a cabinet reshuffle that was carried out by the Governor saw Abia being posted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal. Although he did not spend much time in this Ministry due to his call to serve the Niger Delta people again, at least the few months he served there was enough for the people of the state to see the positive direction he was leading to. As mentioned earlier, Sir (Barr) Bassey Dan Abia is an epitome of successful leadership. He is service personified. Little wonder the level of celebration and goodwill that rented the air when he resumed work at the NDDC headquarters on Aba road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was at its peak. As a former commissioner in the NDDC and later an Acting Chairman, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital stood still when Sir Abia returned as the MD/CEO of the body.
Earlier, youths and women sang songs of excitement; they had kind words for the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Godswill Akpabio for the role they played in ensuring the return of Abia. It was a celebration of the return of a man of integrity that is versed with the nitty-gritty of the job. The celebrations signaled a rekindled hope for the people. He returned to work hard and place the Niger Delta Region in its proper scheme of things in the country, Nigeria.
With the coming of Abia and his resumption of duties, it is worthy to note that much is expected of him. The expectations from him are not because of anything but because there is much work to be done in NDDC; there are issues to sort out and the impact of Abia’s services will go a long way in repositioning the Niger Delta Region and making it an investors haven. Although it may not be quite easy to say the return of Abia would not be services without challenges, especially with the prevailing political situation of the country. But given his acumen, his exposure and his credentials in leadership, he will surmount these challenges. As a progressive-minded person, one is hopeful that Abia will see the challenges ahead of him as a call to more duty and responsibilities.
Followers of the antecedents of Abia will agree wholeheartedly that Godswill Akpabio did not make mistakes when he recommended Abia to President Goodluck Jonathan for appointment and that is why the President’s endorsement of Abia as the MD/CEO of NDDC has been regarded in sincere and honest quarters as a confirmation of the President’s readiness to leave the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria better than he met it.
At this point, one expects that the story of the Niger Delta region will change for the better. Since it is the responsibility of citizens to join hands with the leader of the nation, region and states, one believes that the Niger Delta people will give Abia the needed encouragement and support. These citizenship responsibilities will propel the Abia-led NDDC to deliver on its mandate. It is interesting that so many opinions have been given and used to assess the appointment of Abia into the NDDC as the MD/CEO.
Niger Deltans await the services of Abia which will be holistic, all encompassing and all embracing. Now that Sir (Barr) Abia has settled down to work with all high hopes, it is indeed true that the nation’s president Dr Goodluck Jonathan’s appointment of Dan Abia as the MD/CEO of NDDC was a Christmas gift to the Niger Delta people.
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