A former President of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Udengs Eradiri, has called for support for the appointment of Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua as the acting Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Commending Buhari for the appointment, Eradiri, in a statement issued on Sunday in Yenagoa, said Audu-Ohwavborua deserved the support of stakeholders, pending the inauguration of the commission’s substantive board.

He expressed the optimism that the board promised by the president would soon be ready, insisting that the existing management of NDDC must be allowed to implement its vision for the commission.

Eradiri said that the NDDC acting managing director had already hit the ground running by refocusing and repositioning the commission for optimum performance.

He noted that upon assumption of office, the acting managing director had given clear directives on the flood disaster that ravaged the Niger-Delta region.

According to him, the commission is in the process of rolling out massive relief materials and medical interventions to assist the flood victims.

He said that Audu-Ohwavborua had also attended to some internal obligations, including the accumulated salaries of some categories of workers, adding that he had also taken steps to re-oroganise the commission.

Eradiri also pointed out that the acting managing director had commenced consultations with critical stakeholders and member-states to get their inputs and bring them up to speed with the ongoing reforms in the commission.

He described the acting managing director as an experienced administrator, who understood the commission’s challenges and possessed the capacity to proffer required solutions, having been part of the system.

“We are happy with the appointment of Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua and we commend President Buhari for his commitment to the wishes of the people of the Niger-Delta region.

“The acting managing director has been part of the commission’s system and knows the need and challenges of the youths of the region.

“He is a round peg in a round hole. This is perhaps the first time someone within the NDDC system, who rose to the position of a director, is being appointed to manage the affairs of the commission.

“We call on all the youth and stakeholders in the Niger- Delta region to support the new acting MD to enable him carry out his vision and mandate for the commission, pending the inauguration of the substantive board.

“The acting MD has shown that he understands the challenges of NDDC, following his performance since he assumed office.

“He has since given clear directives on the flood disaster and NDDC will soon roll out massive relief materials and medical interventions to support the flood victims.

“Besides, the new MD has refocused and repositioned the commission for optimum performance,” Eradiri said. (NAN)