President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged the Commitment of the Federal Government to implementing projects and programmes geared towards addressing the diverse needs of the Niger Delta people and for sustainable growth and development in the region.
The President, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 6th Meeting of the National Council on Niger Delta, NCND, at the Government House complex, Asaba, said that his administration would spare no effort in addressing the challenges of underdevelopment and insecurity in the Niger Delta region.
The two-day meeting was organised by the Ministry of Niger Delta Development in collaboration with the Delta State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, with the theme: “Stimulating Strategies for Economic Growth and Development in the Niger Delta Region.”
The President, who was represented by the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, said that the focus of the NCND on stimulating economic growth and development was appropriate as it would stimulate proper coordination of developmental programmes and projects in the Region.
He said: “The focus of this Council is in tandem with the cardinal objectives of my administration which are adequately enunciated in the Renewed Hope Agenda document.
“I am aware of the state of infrastructure and challenges in the Region, but please be reassured that concerted efforts are being made to transform the infrastructural and economic fortunes of the Region.
“The new leadership in the Ministry of Niger Delta Development has prioritised the process of Harmonising all Developmental Plans of Agencies and Development Partners operating in the Niger Delta Region into a Single Integrated Regional Development Plan as roadmap to accelerated development of the Region.”
President Tinubu stated that his administration was serious about repositioning the NDDC to ensure it delivered optimally on its objectives and mandate; and to make its achievements manifest in different sectors of life across the Niger Delta region.
He commended Niger Delta leaders and youths for the relative peace and security being experienced in the region, noting: “This will certainly fast-track the development of the region and provide opportunities to improve basic services, promote economic growth, enterprise development and attract investments into the Niger Delta region.”
The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, said the National Council on Niger Delta, was the highest advisory body to the ministry on policy formulation and implementation towards improving the socio-economic well-being of the people of the Niger Delta Region.
He stated: “It is a high-level platform for critical Stakeholders responsible for deliberations on matters affecting the region and take necessary step towards development of the Niger Delta Region. It is in consideration of the above, that the theme for this year’s meeting has been purposefully tagged “Stimulating Strategies for Economic Growth and Development in the Niger Delta Region”. This theme is expected to galvanize multi-dimensional and multi-Agency approach towards resolving well-known challenges in the Niger Delta and putting in place new initiatives and progressive strategies required for the speedy development of the Region.
“The ministerial mandates include, among others, to: Promote Peace, Security and harmonious co-existence in the Region; Coordinate the harmonization of the Niger Delta Action Plan-MNDD, the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan-NDDC and other relevant plans and programmes; Ensure the timely completion of all ongoing infrastructural projects under the Ministry’s supervision; Develop and manage high impact programmes for empowerment and mass employment of Youths and Women in the Region.”
The Minister assured that the Federal Government was committed to the development of the country and the Niger Delta Region in particular, stating: “We are reinforcing our coordination mechanism to deliver planned objectives in the Niger Delta Region. Efforts in this direction include the Presidential charge to harmonize all development plans in the region into a single strategy to deliver the much-needed development.”
The Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, said that the forum provided a strategic platform for the discussion of Niger Delta affairs.
He said: “I expect that the meeting will look at the issue of PPP in the development process. The problem of youth unemployment is a threat that cannot be taken lightly. Urgent intervention is needed in this regard.”
The Governor said that in Delta State, the service sector comes next to oil in revenue generation. He appealed to NDDC to urgently complete all ongoing and abandoned projects in the state
