By Ignatius Ushie
The Honourable Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, (MNDA), Sen. Godswill Akpabio, CON, has expressed the Federal Government’s unflinching commitment to redress the inequalities pervasive in the Niger Delta region by improving the quality of lives of the people. This was contained in a statement made available to Transport Day in Abuja recently,
Akpabio who was represented by the Director Economic Empowerment (EED), Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Mr. Philip Ndiomu, made the remarks during the commissioning and handing over of a block of six classrooms at Uwheru Town, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State to the State Government.
He said that the construction of a block of six Classrooms is one of the Quick Win Intervention Project in 2017 which served as a palliative approach with the goal of improving the quality of life of the people of Niger Delta Region.
According to him, “the construction of block of classrooms in the 9 states of the region is geared towards making it accessible to the communities especially the rural areas”.
He added that it is one of the gains and achievements recorded under the Change Agenda of the Federal Government and the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari. He noted that two other blocks of classrooms are now completed and also being commissioned at Nneise in Imo and Tombia, in Bayelsa States respectively.
He revealed that all aspects of the construction of the project were awarded to the indigenous and local contractors noting that the construction process has benefitted the community through the created employment opportunities for the youths of the host and neighbouring communities
Earlier, the representative of Delta State Government, Dr. Steve Igheghe Esq. commended Federal Government and the Ministry for the laudable project. He disclosed that the State Government would give all necessary assistance to sustain the project by assigning teachers to the community before resumption in September.
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Babayo Ardo, who was represented by the Deputy Director Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Bala Agbu Tsoken reiterated the commitment of Mr. President towards improvement in the educational conditions of the people is a critical component “and that is why prime attention must be given to it because of its far-reaching impact on the quality of lives of the citizenry which necessitated the commissioning of a block of six classrooms by the Ministry in the State and urged the community in concert with the local and state governments to maintain and improve on the facility in the future”.
The President-General, Uwheru Community, Chief Hon. Igbedi Macpherson, applauds the Buhari led administration and the Ministry for acknowledging Uwheru Kingdom for this extraordinary gesture noting that education is the backbone of every society.
