The Nigerian Army has commended the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for co-operating with security agencies working in the Niger Delta region to ensure peace.
Commanding Officer 29 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Lt. Colonel Aliyu Manga, gave the commendation yesterday during a courtesy visit to the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Manga stated that his visit was aimed at building closer ties with the interventionist agency.
He said the Army would continue to discharge its duties to the country, including maintaining peace in the Niger Delta region, which he affirmed was necessary for sustainable development to thrive.
The Commanding Officer said: “We are here to get acquainted with the NDDC management and generally have a better understanding of our area of operations. Above all, we are seeking synergy with the Commission in the area of security in the Niger Delta region.”
Manga urged the NDDC management to continue to support the security forces in the region and promised to sustain the cordial relationship between the Army and the Commission.
Responding, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, who stressed the need for collaboration to ensure that the region remained peaceful, noted that development could only take place in an atmosphere of peace and security.
Ogbuku commended the Nigerian Army for all its efforts through the years, including the successes it achieved during the period of Operation Delta Safe and other subsequent military operations, that ensured sustained peace in the Niger Delta region.
Assuring that the commission would never take security issues for granted, the NDDC boss said: “Apart from our core mandate of fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta region, we also have a responsibility to ensure that the people of the region live in peace.”
Ogbuku, said that the NDDC and the Nigerian Army had a long history of collaboration which made a positive difference in the lives of the people of the Niger Delta region.
In his own remarks, the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Maj-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd.) assured that the Commission would continue to support the army with some basic infrastructure, especially in their barracks.
