The residents of Ayama, located in the Gbarain kingdom of Bayelsa State, have expressed their appreciation to the Niger Delta Development Commission’s management for taking their community into account when awarding and completing solar-powered street light projects.

They conveyed happiness that their neighborhood had been equipped with solar-powered lamps by the NDDC, placing it among the many villages in the area that had profited from the organization’s “Operation Light Up Niger Delta Project.”

Ayama is one of the settlements of the state’s Yenagoa Local Government Area, which is located in the gas and oil-rich Gbarain axis.

The paramount ruler of Ayama-Gbarain, Kawari Apina-Owei, his deputy, Jeremiah Selesai, and the chairman of the Community Development Committee, Geseye Apina-Owei, all spoke separately when the crowd broke out drums to celebrate the successful completion of the solar street light project. They praised the Managing Director of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, and the management of the interventionist agency for the amenity.

They also praised the NDDC management for giving the project to the community and allowing the contracting company, Doncont Nigeria Limited, to take on and finish the work within the allotted time and specifications.

Apina-Owei said, “Some relief came our way when the NDDC awarded the solar-powered street light to this community.

“This is the first time we are feeling the impact of the leadership and management of the NDDC from inception.

“We thank the Managing-Director/CEO of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku and the entire management of the commission for remembering our community, Ayama, in the award of this solar-powered light project.

“Before now, we have been in total darkness, and so snakes and other dangerous reptiles were roaming at night.”

Selesai, on his part, added, “This is the first NDDC project this community is benefitting. As we speak, we don’t have water, no health facility, no good school.

“We also need internal roads in this community. We call on the NDDC management, led by Dr Ogbuku, the hardworking MD/CEO of the NDDC, to reconsider this community on these other infrastructures we don’t have.

“Before the execution of this solar light project, we could not move freely at night because everywhere used to be dark once it is night.

“But now, we can move at any time of the night to our neighbouring Ogboloma and Okotiama communities.”

They also conveyed their gratitude to Rev. Paul Edidi, the vicar of St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Ayama-Gbarain, for helping the NDDC give the contract to the community when they never would have anticipated it.

The people in the neighborhood referred to him as a godsend, saying that his ability to see well and walk freely at night had made them happy.