NDDC Clarifies Calabar Empowerment Programme, Says Initiative Targeted Cross River South Beneficiaries
By Ebi COLLINS
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has clarified that the economic empowerment programme held in Calabar on May 9 was specifically designed for beneficiaries from Cross River South Senatorial District and not for the entire state, as alleged in some social media commentaries.
The Commission said the intervention was facilitated by the Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, to benefit selected communities within the district.
In a statement issued by the Director of the NDDC Cross River State Office, Dr. Daniel Ajunwa, the Commission described online narratives suggesting that the programme was intended for the whole state as misleading and inaccurate.
According to the statement, the empowerment initiative was never presented as a statewide distribution exercise or an NDDC-wide intervention covering all parts of Cross River State.
“The programme in question was facilitated by the Distinguished Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District. The programme was designed specifically for beneficiaries from communities within Cross River South Senatorial District and not a statewide programme,” the statement read in part.
The Commission further explained that the programme held in Calabar also featured participation from other federal government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), making it a collaborative intervention aimed at supporting constituents within the senatorial district.
NDDC cautioned against the spread of misinformation capable of generating unnecessary political tension and misrepresenting the true purpose of the programme.
It urged members of the public to disregard claims portraying the initiative as a state-wide empowerment scheme, maintaining that the programme remained a constituency-focused intervention facilitated by Senator Ekpenyong for the benefit of communities in Cross River South Senatorial District.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparent and impactful interventions across the Niger Delta region in line with its mandate of promoting sustainable development and economic empowerment.
