Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has urged Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to partner with the state to drive sustainable development, capable of impacting positively on the lives of the people.
Akeredolu, who spoke on Thursday in Akure while receiving management team of the commission, led by the Interim Administrator, Mr Akwa Effiong, said that it would be of mutual benefit if NDDC could partner with the state and invest in its numerous resources.
While stating that the state had diverse potentials, the governor said that NDDC could make money from the state by getting involved in the exploration of its bitumen.
“Ondo State, no doubt, has many potentialities. Not only oil, our potentials are diverse. We want to put them before you. NDDC can make money in the state, instead of spending money all the time.
“You can buy into our bitumen. It might be that our investment in bitumen will be what we will rely on later. We have so many mineral resources. We have the best dimensional stones.
“We have beautiful seaside. We can invest in tourism together. Those are areas of interest, for me. We have discussed and suggested so many other areas.
“I can assure you that here in this state, a lot can be done. Let’s drive sustainable development. It can be in form of investment partnership. It will change positively the lives of our people,” he said.
Earlier, Effiong had commended the various giant strides of the Akeredolu-led administration, particularly in the areas of road construction and other infrastructure.
Effiong assured the governor of the commission’s continued cooperation and support for the state, promising to look into the issue of abandoned projects.
He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had urged the commission to separate politics from projects that would benefit the people of the zone.
Present at the event were Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Tayo Alasoadura, the lawmaker representing Akoko North East/North West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, Bibopere Ajube and other eminent personalities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the event was the inauguration, by the governor, of three waste disposal trucks donated to the state by NNDC. (NAN)
