The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has stressed the need for periodic training and capacity building to enhance the efficiency of its staff in the task of developing the Niger Delta region.
Speaking while declaring open a three-day in-house Staff Capacity Building for Drivers, Security and Technical staff at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Director of Administration, Dr. Charles Akpan, harped on the importance of training and re-training in any organisation.
He observed that technical and security personnel require periodic training to develop and update their skills, noting that it was more pertinent for security staff who need to be abreast of latest developments in order to be effective in tackling security challenges. According to him, “We must always improve on our security architecture because it determines our safety.”
Akpan charged the participants at the training to use the opportunity to develop themselves, stating: “The workshop is intended to improve your skills in driving and other technical duties. I implore all of you to pay rapt attention to the consultant in order to further develop your skills.”
He assured that the training programme would be a regular exercise that would be extended to the nine NDDC state offices in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states.
In his presentation, entitled: “Defensive Driving and Journey Management Training,” the facilitator, Mr. King Isaac, noted that road traffic accidents were the leading causes of unnatural death in the country. He identified inadequate road infrastructure as one of the causes of accidents.
King cautioned drivers to avoid distractions, such as taking phone calls or sending text messages while driving.
In his remarks, the NDDC Chief Driver, Mr Bassey Ibanga, said that the training would help the drivers to perform better on their jobs and behave well when driving.
According to the Chief Driver, “a good driver is the one that puts safety first.”