NDDC donates relief materials to Bayelsa community

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has donated relief materials to Ayakoro Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to assuage losses and other challenges occasioned by periodic flooding experienced by the people.

NDDC, in a statement on Thursday, said the donation is “in response to the periodic flood that usually leads to the loss of life, farmland, and other economic assets.”

Patience Ezugu, NDDC Director of Education, Health and Social Services, who represented the general manager in presenting the materials to the community, said the gesture was in line with the commission’s determination to ameliorate the sufferings of the people of Ayakoro community and the Niger Delta region.

He stated: “As we come together for the donation and distribution of food items and essential household materials to the people of Ayakoro Community, which is one of the many demonstrations of NDDC’s commitments to improving the lives of the people, we will continue to empower communities, promote and drive sustainable development across the region.”

Ogbuku, who reiterated that the mandate to develop the region was driven by the reality of environmental pollution, ecological degradation, and other indicators of underdevelopment, assured that the interventionist agency would not rest on its oars in implementing impactful projects in the zone.

In his goodwill message, Micah Itekesi, Acting Paramount ruler of Ayakoro Kingdom, who spoke through a community representative, ThankGod Expenses, commended the NDDC for coming to the aid of victims of the flood disaster.

He remarked, “Today is a great day for the people of Ayakoro Community. We have never seen a commission like this, nor did we expect the huge palliatives donated by NDDC management, under the leadership of Chief Samuel Ogbuku, to alleviate the sufferings of our community. We want to sincerely thank the commission for its timely intervention.”

Itekesi assured that the relief packages would be fairly and equitably distributed among the various compounds in the community.

Also speaking, Daniel George Smile, consultant for the programme, said the community was selected among the communities hit by the flood because of its serious impact and the community’s poor economic condition.

He said that efforts were underway to review the other areas ravaged by the recent flood for intervention.