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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
A group under the aegis the Niger Delta Media Advocates (NDMA), has condemned a disparaging publication allegedly sponsored by self-seeking politicians against the person of the executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engineer Simbi Wabote, and urged him not to be deterred but continue doing good works in the overall interest of the country.
The group frowned at the unsigned publication that alleged that the NCDMB has not fared well under the leadership of Engineer Wabote, saying the publication which was deliberately written “with the intention to disparage the character of the executive secretary of the board” lacked the facts to prove that the NCDMB has performed abysmally since he took over office.
In a statement signed by its Bayelsa State leader, Comrade Tarinyo Akono, the NDMA listed the completion of the 17-storey headquarters of the NCDMB office complex in Yenagoa, the acquisition of equity in the 12,000 barrel per day Azikel Refinery and the 5,000 barrel per day Waltersmith and Petrochemical Company Limited modular refineries, reduction of expatriate participation in the oil industry by 80% and ongoing construction of oil and gas industrial park in Cross Rivers and Bayelsa States as few achievements of the NCDMB under the leadership of Wabote.
The statement further read: “The leasing of NCBMD land to Shell Gas Nigeria for the production of domestic gas, the construction of 25megawats independent power project in conjunction with the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, the training of hundreds of youths, most of whom have been employed within and outside the country are some of the numerous achievements of the NCDMB under Simbi Wabote, and all these achievements translate to employment generation, improved security and increased GDP.
“The Niger Delta Media Advocates berates those antagonizing the executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, describing them as ill informed, misguided individuals sponsored by self-centered individuals who have politicized all developmental projects in the Niger Delta region.
“To us, Engineer Simbi Wabote deserves the support and encouragement of the people of the Niger Delta and Bayelsa state in particular to enable him variegate the entire Nigerian oil and gas industry dominated by foreign content with Nigerian Content.
“Therefore people should focus more on collective gains rather than individual gains so that our region will not continue to wallow in poverty in the mist of plenty. We urge Engineer Wabote not to be deterred by the antics of selfish individuals but continue with the good works he is doing in the overall interest of the country,” they said.