The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, on March 27, 2025, flagged off the construction of National Youth Corp, (NYSC), Lodge facility in Umuaka Community, Abia State.
This initiative is aimed at cushioning the accommodation challenges of the Corp members during their one-year mandatory service.
Performing the ceremony on behalf of the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Chief Eruba Dimgba, member representing Abia State on the Federal Board of Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), noted that the Commission had the priority of upholding President Ahmed Tinubu's Renowned Hope Agenda of improved living conditions of the rural people, inclusive development and surmounting socio-economic challenges of the time.
He said that the Mr President was sympathetic with the Corp members accommodation challenges, especially in the rural areas, adding that the initiative would improve the educational standards of the rural youths.
"NDDC is aligning itself with the Eight-point Agenda of Mr President. NDDC is doing all this because Mr President has mandated us to drive development to the rural areas and this is what we're doing, he said.
Speaking on the construction of Corp members Lodge, Dimgba said that the facility would ease the attendant accommodation challenges of the Corp members, adding that the Lodge would be "comfortable" enough to serve both those posted to the community and Ukwa Local Government Area as a whole.
Dr Dimgba revealed that the Commission was determined to change the stigma of non-performance and corruption, to development-oriented Agency that would enhance the living standards of the Niger Delta rural dwellers.
He charged the community to "own up and guide the facilities jealously" to avoid vandalisation of the properties that would deter the purpose for which it was built.
According to Dimgba,
"The community people should open their arms to receive NDDC, protect the projects because it's domiciled in your community. No youth should be allowed to either pilfer or remove facilities that has been established by NDDC. Only the youth can scale fences, the old men can't. It's criminal, the consequences will not be pleasant."
Responding, the Town Union President Elder Benjamin John, represented by the Secretary, Comrade Chizaram Elechi, while assuring the NDDC of the commitment of the community to security concerns, appreciated the Commission for the sustained development in the area, and equally advised the contractor against poor quality job standards that would undermine the genuine purpose of the Agency.
Louisa Achi, the contractor in charge of the project, commended NDDC for this proactive initiative for the youth, promising to complete the structure on record time with the specified standards.
The Commission had established its presence in Abia State, creating jobs and skills in different agribusiness entrepreneurship, building roads and installing multiple solar street lights in the rural communities for business growth and rural commercial activities.
Similar flag off ceremonies include, expansion and installation of Ngwaiyiekwe - Ogwe - Umuaka roads, April 24, 2024, provision of 229 solar street lights in Umuaka, April 24, 2024; Umuaka - Umudiobia road construction, November 26, 2024, among numerous others in Local Government Area.
