In a move to alleviate the hardships faced by Bakassi returnees, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, the Commissioner representing Cross River State in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has presented a truckload of relief materials to the returnees. The presentation took place at the Bakassi returnees camp in Ikang on Friday NEGROIDHAVEN has garnered.
Duke emphasized that this intervention is meant to complement the ongoing efforts of the Cross River State Government in addressing the challenges faced by the Bakassi returnees. He urged the camp coordinator to ensure that the relief materials are distributed to those who need them most, stressing that effective distribution would encourage the NDDC to provide even more support to the Bakassi community.
Upon hearing complaints about the immediate needs of the returnees, including roads, electricity, a jetty, and boats for security agencies, Duke assured the community that these concerns would be presented to the Commission for urgent intervention. He also highlighted the NDDC’s commitment to addressing other critical areas such as education, healthcare, and economic empowerment.
Duke further noted that future relief efforts would also encompass other parts of the state. “We have invasion and refugee camps in Obanliku and Boki which we are working towards. Ours is to ameliorate whatever situation we find ourselves in,” he stated.
In their remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Ani Esin, and former member representing Bakassi State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly who is currently the Special Adviser on Health to the state Governor, Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, expressed their gratitude to the NDDC Commissioner for his support to the Bakassi returnees.
On his part, Prince Aston Joseph Inyang, the camp coordinator, along with members of the camp management committee, received the relief materials on behalf of the returnees. Inyang thanked Hon. Orok Duke and the NDDC for the donation and assured the Commissioner that the items would be distributed fairly.
The relief materials included bags of rice, beans, beds, cartons of noodles, tin tomatoes, toiletries, footwear, mosquito nets, and seasoning cubes, among other essentials.
This intervention marks a vital step in mitigating the challenges faced by the Bakassi returnees and highlights the NDDC’s ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable communities in Cross River State.
