By Daniel Idonor
ABUJA— President Goodluck Jonathan said, yesterday, at the Presidential Villa that the Federal Government was taking action to ensure that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, were better focused on their assignments.

Speaking at an audience with Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo of the Catholic Vicarage of Bomadi, President Jonathan said action will also be taken to ensure greater cooperation, collaboration and coordination between the Ministry and NDDC in the interest of the people of the Niger Delta.

Recalling that the NDDC Board was recently dissolved and reconstituted because of institutional paralysis caused by internal strife amongst members of the dissolved board, President Jonathan said he expected the new leadership of the commission to be more committed to the implementation of developmental projects that will benefit the ordinary people of Niger Delta, including residents of the Vicarage of Bomadi, Delta State.

He said: “Our approach will be different next year. We will make sure that the NDDC is better focused and does what is right for the people of Niger Delta.”

Bishop Egbebo was accompanied by the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Dr. Augustine Kasujja.

, who  pledged that there will be enhanced monitoring of the Federal Government’s developmental agencies in the Niger Delta to ensure that they fulfilled their objectives.

Bishop Egbebo had recounted the deprivation being suffered by the people of Bomadi Vicarage and asked for intervention by the Federal Government to improve transportation, water supply, power supply, education and other social services in the area.

The Papal Nuncio conveyed greetings from Pope Benedict XVI to the President and presented him with a Christmas card.