Nigeria’s Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio’s proactive approach in the management of the region’s affairs through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) since assuming office has been applauded.

This recent applause is coming from a socio-political group in the Niger Delta, the G.A. South-South Movement (GASSM), which commended his efforts at curbing corruption in the commission, noting that his actions have given a new lease of life to the commission

Coordinator of the group, Zion Amada, in a statement issued today in Port Harcourt, called on all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to build a critical mass of patriotism and functional synergy focused on developing the beleaguered region instead of resorting to campaigns of calumny against the minister, asserting that Akpabio’s good intentions to develop the region was unprecedented.

The group pledged its continued support and loyalty to Akpabio, describing him as a transparent leader whose quest to fight corruption in the interventionist agency has earned him undue criticisms from those known to be enemies of the Niger Delta.

Amada said that those behind some of the corrupt practices unearthed by Akpabio were the ones responsible for the witchhunt and unwarranted attacks on the person of the Hon. Minister, adding that the  alleged N40billion probe by the House of Representatives is targeted at destroying the hard earned reputation of the Minister.

The group also commended the minister for his contributions in capturing youth empowerment and job creation in the budget, since 2019 when he served as the senate minority leader in the National Assembly adding that his good deeds towards the Niger Delta have not gone unnoticed by the people of the region.

According to the statement,” Godswill Akpabio is the first Minister to visit NDDC Headquarters to address the staff to refrain from misconduct and fraud, he is the first Minister to carry out verification before payment and the one who stopped upfront payment on fictitious and over inflated contracts without verification.

“We also applaud the Managing Director for co-operating with the Minister since the onset of the forensic Audit,” he said.