Niger Delta Ministry, NDDC working on new strategies to develop Niger Delta region- Engr. Adebiyi

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By Emmanuel Obisue

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi, has restated Federal Governments’ resolve to re-focus on strategies towards achieving sustainable development in the Niger DeltaRregion.

He said the ministry and Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC are currently working to harmonise all developmental plans in the region into a single “Regional Development Strategy”.

He stated this at the Pre-Council activities of the 5th National Council on Niger Delta, NCND with the theme: ‘Harnessing 21st Century Development Initiatives and Strategies for Greater Development Impacts in the Niger Delta region’ holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The perm sec noted that the 5th Council will help consolidate on the gains of the previous four editions of the stakeholder interaction, “by deepening discussion on how best to fast- track development in the region”.

He explained that the plan being worked on will help galvanise the intended rapid development in the region and “enhance operationalization of Strategic Implementation Work Plan (SIWP) tool, which is another dynamic effort of the Federal Government to drive development in the region”.

While acknowledging the importance of the National Council on Niger Delta Affairs as the highest advisory body to the Federal Government on the Niger Delta region, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, stated that “development initiatives have to do with laying out plans to ensure that data-driven evidence and analysis are used effectively in policy and practice to end poverty, reduce inequality and increase resilience”.

The governor who was represented by his deputy Moses Ekpo, pointed out that lack of such initiatives “creates gaps in effective development of human capacity and the physical needs of man, giving rise to poverty, crime and underdevelopment of the human environment”.

He urged that the Niger Delta region should aim at the fullest harvest from its crude oil wealth for the greater benefit of Niger Deltans, with current statistics indicating that oil and gas contribute about 75 percent of foreign exchange of the nation’s total earnings.

He further suggested that considerations should be given to critical issues such as the proposed Water Resources Bill, the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, the Forensic Audit Report, harmonization plans and the inauguration of a board for the NDDC, “among other burning issues to achieve ultimate impact of enhancing lives in the region”.