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 Barrister Chiedu Ebie, Chairman, Governing Board of The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Thursday, on behalf of the Commission presented financial support and palliatives to victims of the 2024/2025 inferno incidents in Ika South and Ika North-East Local Government Areas of Delta State. Organised by the Commission in collaboration with the UsFirst Charity Foundation, the presentation took place at the Vienna Arena Event Centre, Boji Boji Agbor.

Speaking at the event, Ebie stressed that the current Board and Management of the NDDC is pro- people and meeting the needs of the masses and not pandering to the whims and caprices of few or servicing their interests.

According to him, the Commission’s gesture was part of its renewed drive to respond to the needs of people affected by natural or man-made disasters in the Niger Delta region.

Ebie pointed out that the new leadership and management of NDDC were committed to serving the greater good of greater number of Niger Deltans, noting that rendering of to the people is one of the major reasons people occupy public offices.

His words: “We are here today to say to the victims, ‘sorry for your loss, wipe your tears.’ This token is our way of identifying with you and easing the pain of your losses.

“The new NDDC is about people, compassion and accountability.”

He explained that the assistance extended to the fire victims followed a report, which identified 67 victims including tenants, landlords and traders who suffered losses in the incidents.

“The fire incidents were very unfortunate. Working with the local authorities, we compiled a detailed report to identify those affected and determine how best to support them. We saw the need to extend the financial succour to the victims of similar fire victims of 2024″, he stated

The NDDC Chairman further disclosed that four persons lost their lives in the two separate fire incidents recorded in March 2024 and January 2025. The Commission, he said, had identified their next of kins, who were also present to receive financial support. “That report formed the basis for this intervention”, Ebie explained, adding that an additional verification exercise was carried out to ensure transparency in the process. “I was informed this morning that a young lady who was omitted earlier has now been included in the beneficiary list. We want to make sure no genuine victim is left out,” he emphasized.

Ebie revealed that victims were identified and categorized according to their loses, he however, lamented that lives lost could not be quantified.

The NDDC boss expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the unwavering support he has given to the Commission,  reaffirming that under the present leadership and management, the NDDC would continue to initiate people-centred projects and interventions to uplift communities across the Niger Delta.

 “In the past two years, we have rolled out initiatives like the ‘Light Up Niger Delta’ programme to improve livelihoods and offer relief to communities in need. This is not the day for the presentation of our scorecard. I cannot not tell you the exact number of Solar Powered Street lights we have provided in both Ika South and Ika North East. But the truth is that we have deployed a sizeable number power lights in Ika nation’’, Ebie added

He assured the victims and stakeholders that their request for a fire fighting vehicles and other relevant fire prevention equipment would be looked into and granted.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Programme Cordinator,  UsFirst Charity Foundation, Mrs Onome Osime, commended the NDDC for sponsoring the initiative and standing by the victims of the Agbor inferno.

“NDDC has been a beacon of hope for the Niger Delta region. Their intervention today will help victims rebuild their lives after the devastating fire,” Osime said, expressing appreciation on behalf of the foundation and beneficiaries.

Also speaking at the event, Director, Education, Health and Social Services, Dr. George Uzonwanne represented by Mr. Osinachi Elechi, conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased and lauded the resilience of those affected. “Together, we can make a difference by showing compassion, care and unity in the face of adversity,” he said.

On his part, the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi, praised NDDC’s leadership and management for the gesture, saying that Ebie and the Commission’s Managing Director, Dr. Sam Ogbuku have given human face to the NDDC. Other community leaders and beneficiaries at the event described the NDDC’s intervention as timely and a sign of the Commission’s renewed commitment to the welfare of the people.

Highlight of the event was the presentation of financial gifts to the affected individuals and groups.

Recall that Ebie, in January 2025, condoled with victims of the tanker fire accident that occurred early that month in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident claimed the lives of about four persons, with some persons badly injured and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed.

The diesel tanker, which reportedly suffered a brake failure, fell at a traffic light junction and exploded into a ball of fire that burnt four persons to death. Three other persons suffered various degrees of injury in the explosion and the resultant inferno.

Ebie had said he was saddened by the occurrence of the resultant carnage, lamenting that the incident would further aggravate the economic hardship of the victims and promised an assessment will be conducted by the Local Government Council to determine the GC by the inferno.