By Nwafor Sunday

The social media aide to the Nigerian President, Mrs Lauretta Onochie, Wednesday, reeled out facts to prove that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, President Muhammadu Buhari was indeed a man of his words. Lauretta Onochie Buhari, who came to power democratically in 2015 promised Nigerians ‘CHANGE’, which undoubtedly, was achieved in spite of the economic recession that struck the country in 2017.
Buhari, in his three and half years declared war against insurgency, corruption and economic hardship. His administration is winning the war gradually. Recall that Vanguard had published a statement by Femi Adesina were he listed 10 things Nigerians should know about their economy, and how Buhari has achieved so much in the economic sector. However, following the alleged report by Niger Deltans on marginalization, Onochie took out time to number out projects which President Muhammadu Buhari has completed and some still ongoing in the region. She said that Buhari constructed Otuoke road, ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s village which he (Jonathan) could not construct when he was the president. “Otuoke, his own village, had no road leading to it nor water. Along with water, the road has only been constructed by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, a man so much hatred has been galvanized against in the Niger Delta.” Read her full statement below: Under Buhari, The Abandoned Niger Delta Has Been A Construction Site.

I have always held and opined that leadership is about meeting the needs of the people. It’s not about having my brother or sister in position of leadership, unless such a brother or sister has the competence to deliver the dividends of democracy to ALL. I’m worried we’re not allowed to participate in some Rivers’ elections – Buhari Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian, PhD, and core Niger Delta son, led this nation for six years. The Niger-Delta has little or nothing to show for it. Otuoke, his own village, had no road leading to it nor water. Along with water, the road has only been constructed by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, a man so much hatred has been galvanized against in the Niger Delta. But the people know better and they know who their leader is. They know the one who truly loves them; they know the one who cares about them; they know the one that is bringing development to their region; they know the one who is fighting their corner; they know it is President Muhammadu Buhari. Here are some of the projects that are either under construction in the Niger Delta or completed, just some of them. Credit to whoever compiled this. Thank you.

The construction of US$186 million (N65 Billion), 240MW, Power Plant in Afam, Oyigbo, Rivers State. (commenced in 2016, in partnership with General Electric. Project almost completed).

Construction of 120 billion Naira Bonny-Bodo Road in Rivers State, jointly funded by the Federal Government and NLNG. (Project ongoing).

3) The construction of a 459MW Azura Power Plant in Edo State, in partnership with the private sector. Approvals for the US$900 million (N315 Billion) project were given by President Buhari, leading to commencement of construction in 2016. Project completed in May 2018, seven months ahead of schedule.

4) Payment of N1.3 trillion statutory arrears to the NDDC, this money was owed to the commission by all governments of the PDP in an oil boom. Buhari is doing this in a recession. Before this payment, the NDDC has turned may communities in the region into a construction site.

5) Construction of Cassava Processing Plants in six Niger Delta Communities. The communities are Mbutu community in Aboh Mbaise LGA and Okweketa Umuekwune in Ngor-Okpala LGA, Imo State; Ibeku Village, Umuahia, in Abia State; Wanakom in Yala LGA, Cross River State; Gbarantoro, Ekpetiama in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and Bah Lueku, Nyokalena Village in Khana LGA of Rivers State, Igbotako in Okitipupa LGA of Ondo State.

6) In partnership with the IOCs, Payment of initial $10m (3.5 billion) for kickoff of Ogoni Clean Up. Facilitation of the Clean Up exercise, leading to initial payment of $177m (N62billion) for the first year of the clean up. 15% of this amount already paid to 16 contractors for mobilisation, leading to site mobilisation recently. Over 20,000 persons already given medical services, and 400 surgeries carried out in the medical aspect of the clean up. Procurement for water provision ongoing. And preparation for second year of remediation ongoing. Training and employment of indigenes of Ogoni to work in the project.

7) Completion of new Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal. Police, INEC ready for Feb. 23 elections in C’River Completion of the 60km Alesi–Ugep Road in Cross River State; contract awarded for 72km section from Odukpani Junction to Ugep.

9) Ongoing construction of Modular Refineries in Delta, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Delta own is almost concluded. This is a way to involve Niger Delta indigenes in their own oil, something they’ve been clamouring for in years but nobody, not even their “brother” could provide for them.

10) Water Projects: Completed Ogwashi-Uku Dam, Delta State;

Completed Ekeremor Water Supply Project, Edo State;

Completed Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project, serving Ugboha and Uromi communities of Edo State;

Completed Rehabilitation of Ojirami Dam Water Supply Project, Edo State;

Completed Central Ogbia Regional Water Project in Bayelsa State.

11) Social Investment Programme: 85,000 N-Power Beneficiaries in the South South; School Feeding has kicked off in 3 of the six States: Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Delta. 214 women who specialize in Poultry and Snail Production were given between N350,000 to N500,00 Each, 198 women and youths in the Niger-Delta region were trained on ICT & business hub, poultry & fish production, under PMB’s administration, 60 youths from the Niger-Delta region were also trained on assemblage and repair of phones.

12) Kick off of Federal Maritime University in Delta State, to the praise of many Niger Delta leaders. Academic activities commenced in 2018. NDDC currently constructing a 69Km link road and bridges to the university. Oil-producing communities draw up template to manage 13% derivation

13) Work is now ongoing on the East-West Road after it was abandoned by previous administration.

14) Ongoing dualisation of Yenegwe Road Junction-Kolo-Otuoke-Bayelsa Palm.

15) Ongoing rehabilitation of Sections 1 to 4 of the Enugu — Port Harcourt Expressway. 16) Rehabilitation of Calabar–Itu–Odukpani Road that links Akwa-Ibom to Cross River (ongoing). 17) Construction f 25KM Ogbia/Nembe road in Bayelsa State costing N21 Billion. Project already 100% completed.

18) Buhari dealt with the so called Niger Delta Avengers, putting Tompolo on the run till today. He eliminated the threat of Don Wanney in Rivers State. The government, through NIMASA, bought several speedboats to deal with the threat of pirates on our waterways.

19) Nimasa engaged 3,752 seafarers, 1,000 of them from Rivers state alone.

20) Many Niger Delta States were unable to pay salary before Buhari took over. But through his comprehensive bailout program to state governments, these States were able to begin to pay salary. This is why all governors in the country love him today

Source:- Vanguardngr