In Effurun, Delta State, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has made a commitment to expediting the completion of the Army Jetty and related amenities at the 3 Battalion Nigerian Army Barracks.

The NDDC’s executive director of projects, Sir Victor Antai, emphasized the project’s significance during an inspection visit with Brigadier General Eke Odoemele, Commander of the 46 Engineer Brigade, according to a statement made public by Pius Ughakpoteni, director of corporate affairs.

Antai highlighted the comprehensive scope of the project, which includes housing quarters, office buildings, a clinic, a helipad, armory, and fuel storage.

The Nigerian Army’s operating capability in the Niger Delta will be greatly increased upon the completion of the jetty project, demonstrating the NDDC’s dedication to regional security, Antai said.

Antai emphasized the need of starting construction on the Army Jetty, which had been postponed for a number of reasons, in the wake of a terrible incident that occurred in Okuama, Delta State’s Ugheli South local government area.

Antai stated: “When completed, the jetty project will be a big operational base for the Nigerian Army in the Niger Delta region. It underscores the importance the NDDC places on the security of lives and property in the region.

“We are keen on executing legacy projects and we believe that this project will add a lot of value to the security infrastructure in Nigeria’s oil-bearing region and improve the maritime activities in the Niger Delta.”

The executive director of projects once again offered sympathies to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives while performing their duties in Okuoma, Ugheli South local government area, Delta State, during the project inspection at 3 Battalion Barracks.

Antai reported that during his condolence visit to Major General Jamal Abdussalam at the 6 Division headquarters in Port Harcourt, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the managing director of the NDDC, had promised to expeditiously carry out the Jetty project.

He said, “The Managing Director insisted that we undertake this inspection visit to ascertain the actions to be taken to ensure the speedy completion of the jetty and other facilities being built to assist the army in its operations in the Niger Delta region.”

Though he indicated that the project had been reallocated to a different contractor in order to expedite work, Antai complimented the contractor on the progress accomplished thus far.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier Odoemele thanked the NDDC for taking on the Effurun jetty construction project as well as other initiatives that help the army meet its security mandate.

“The jetty will boost our operations in the South-South region, particularly in the maritime environment of the Niger Delta region. It will enhance our operational security and response to security challenges,” he declared.

He noted that the army would be able to deploy vital resources for efficient patrol to secure waterways and discourage criminals thanks to the Jetty.

According to Engineer Nelson Onwo, the head of project monitoring and supervision at NDDC, the jetty will include ten landing bays to support operations by the Nigerian Army in the area.

He stated that a helipad, internal roads, an officer’s dormitory, a canteen, a clinic, a fire bay, an armory, a fuel dump, and parade grounds were among the features included in the proposal.