The interim administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Effiong Akwa, has appealed to aggrieved stakeholders in the region to trust President Muhammadu Buhari on issues affecting the commission and the Niger Delta.

“I am aware of the agitations, but I want to appeal to all those who are aggrieved to allow the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari to do what it intends to do with the NDDC. He means well for the commission and the Niger Delta,” Mr Akwa said.

He said Mr Buhari was on the verge of handing over a reformed, productive, effective and efficient NDDC to the Niger Delta people.

Mr Akwa spoke in a webinar, an online virtual meeting organised by his Special Adviser on Youths and Sports, Udengs Eradiri, and viewed by hundreds of youths worldwide.

He particularly noted a genuine request for the constitution of a substantive board for the commission but urged stakeholders to exercise patience and allow the implementation of the forensic audit report.

Represented by Mr Eradiri, the NDDC boss disclosed that the audit report uncovered a can of worms in the commission, insisting that the cleansing process was ongoing to give the NDDC a fresh beginning.

Besides, he disclosed that the act establishing the commission was undergoing reviews to accommodate pertinent audit report recommendations.

“I believe that by the time they finish with this process, the board will be constituted following the outcome of the forensic exercise, we can no longer rely on the existing act. The act is being reviewed to accommodate some of the recommendations of the report.

“The board will come when all the parameters have been put together, so that going forward, the new NDDC can start on good footing. People should reduce the agitation on board and work with the current management of the NDDC,” he said.

Commenting on the theme of the webinar, which centred around the 2023 general elections, Mr Akwa encouraged the youths and other stakeholders to participate in the electoral process.

(NAN)