At last, the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been inaugurated with Lauretta Onochie as Chairman.

Both the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Umana Okon Umana were present at the inauguration in Abuja.

Onochie pledged to be fair and equitable in the distribution of projects in the region especially in the aspect of youth empowerment and development.

She said: “Apart from the physical development of our region, we will be paying extra attention to the empowerment of our teaming youth population, equipping them with requisite skills to catch up with their peers in other parts of Nigeria and elsewhere. We will not fail. It’s a promise. But we ask that you give us the breathing space to do our job. We ask for your support, all and sundry, so we can deliver for the long-suffering people of the Niger Delta.

“So, help us, God. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. God bless the Niger Delta region. Thank you all and God bless you,” she said.

Minister Umana in his remark said: “I appreciate His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari for fulfilling the law by keeping his promise of approving the Board of NDDC in line with section 2 subsection 1 of the NDDC Act 2000. Today, we are witnessing the inauguration of the board in fulfillment of Mr. President’s promise that he will put in place a genuine board for the commission after the completion of the forensic audit.”

The Board will now liaise with the acting Managing Director of NDDC and the entire staff to deliver the mandate of the commission.