NDDC Commissions Solar Street Lights In Ogoni Communities

* Light Up Niger Delta, Flagship Of Renewed Hope Agenda – NDDC Boss

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has commissioned solar-powered street lights in Bodo, Biera and Bera communities in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State as part of its ongoing Light Up the Niger Delta project.

Inaugurating the project, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said that the street lights would enhance the economic value of the communities, reduce criminal activities in the area and promote a productive nightlife.

In a statement by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs, Ogbuku, who was accompanied by the NDDC Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye and the South-South Vice Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Mr. Victor Giadom, assured that more communities in the Niger Delta would soon be lit up.

Earlier, Ogbuku paid a courtesy visit to King Festus Babaa Paago Baigia, the Gbenemene Gokana Kingdom, at his palace, appealing to the monarch and his people to allow the Federal Government to negotiate with all parties concerned for a quick resumption of the oil exploration activities in Ogoni land.

He said the resumption of oil operations in the area would also benefit Ogoni through employment and industrialisation.

Ogbuku states, “The Ogoni people must position themselves for the associated benefits of oil, as the wealth locked underneath the soil will benefit both the Federal Government and the Ogoni communities.

“I assure you that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is a listening government and that he will considerably accommodate your views on the return of oil operations to Ogoni land.”

The NDDC boss commended President Tinubu’s wisdom in continuing the Ogoni clean exercise. He stated that the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, would make international oil companies more responsible for their host communities.

When he met with Ogoni leaders in Aso Rock last year, Ogbuku observed that President Tinubu demonstrated his interest in the people’s affairs. He stressed the importance of Ogoni land in the Niger Delta region, noting that they were entitled to a fair share of NDDC projects.

King Festus Babaa Baigia, Gbenemene Gokana Kingdom, who is also the Chairman of the Gokana council of traditional rulers, pledged the Ogoni people’s support for the President Tinubu-led administration and thanked him for the appointment of Dr Ogbuku, who he said, “has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the Managing Director of NDDC.”

He said installing street lights in the communities brought many benefits in security and commerce, acknowledging that commercial activities now thrive at night.

The royal father appealed to the Federal Government to bring more development projects to Ogoni, assuring they would partner with the government to protect facilities in his domain.

Earlier, Ogbuku, had described the Light up the Niger Delta project of the Commission as the flagship of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the Niger Delta region.

He observed that solar-powered street lights had revolutionised how people live and work, creating the right environment for peaceful living.

According to the NDDC boss, “We decided to adopt the clean energy approach, which not only provides light but helps in the fight to mitigate the effects of climate change on our environment. I can assure you that the incidence of crime has reduced in most of these communities.”

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer expressed delight at the positive impact of the “Light Up the Niger Delta” campaign, which he observed had reduced criminality in the various communities and enhanced commercial activities in the areas.

He said: “We thought it was necessary to create the right environment for our people to live in peace by reducing criminal activities in our communities. Most of these communities have become hideouts for criminals who operate under darkness.

“The operation light-up the Niger Delta was based on our need assessment which showed that in many communities, what created agitations was not only the fact that they don’t have water or school buildings, but that they see themselves as inferior to those in IOC camps where light and other amenities are taken for granted.”

Ogbuku said that the solar streetlights have helped protect the environment in many ways: “We have received a lot of commendations from the communities that are beneficiaries.

“We also intend to reach out to those communities that don’t have the light yet. It is not a cheap project, but we are biting the bullet to ensure that at least we drive this initiative around the Niger Delta.

“In the area of carbon credit, we are working with a consultant on this. Solar power has the dual benefit of providing needed projects for the people and building NDDC’s carbon credits. The commission expects to recover the carbon credits trapped in some of these projects.”

The NDDC boss pledged that many more communities across the Niger Delta region would benefit from the solar-powered street light projects, which, he said, the NDDC was pursuing with vigour.

Ogbuku urged Niger Delta youths to continue to support the policies and programmes of the Federal Government “because Mr. President means well for the people of the Niger Delta region.”