By Anne Azuka
Nigeria’s President Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday said his administration was committed 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.
Tinubu stated this while declaring Open the 6th Meeting of the National Council on Niger Delta (NCND) in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The president, represented at the ceremony by the Minister Steel Development, Prince Audu Abubakar posited that it was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address the challenges of underdevelopment and insecurity in the Niger Delta Region.
Tinubu disclosed that Government has developed a holistic plan for the development of the Niger Delta Region and all parts of Nigeria in terms of infrastructure, education and harnessing the bountiful resources of all parts of the country.
According to him, this is evident in the Ministerial Performance Bond for Presidential Priorities and Deliverables for 2023 – 2027 which was signed between the Minister of Niger Delta Development and myself, as well as with all members of the Federal Executive Council.
“To achieve these development initiatives, my administration deemed it fit to widen the scope of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development that is saddled with the responsibility of formulating and executing plans, programmes and other initiatives for the development of the Niger Delta region.
The president therefore called on all Council Members and Stakeholders to engage constructively as this would afford everyone the opportunity to come together as experts to deal with issues that were of utmost importance to the well-being of the Niger Delta people in particular and the country in general.
He extolled the leaders and youths for the relative peace and security being experienced in the region.
“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”, he added.
Tinubu averred that his administration was dedicated to ensuring that the local refineries, across the Niger Delta Region and other parts of the country, were made operational and put to optimal use soonest.
He added that it would ensure petroleum products availability and further reduce the retail cost of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), create more job opportunities for the youths and grow the Nation’s GDP.
Also speaking, the Minister of Niger Delta Development (NDD), Engr. Abubakar Momoh urged the Council to use the opportunity to think out of the box, forge possible linkages, collaboration and partnership required to finding solutions to myriad of developmental challenges facing the Niger Delta Region.
“Also postulate new strategies and approaches that will assist us to collectively improve the living standard of our people in the region.
“As critical partners in the region, all hands must be on deck to sustain development, peace and security, support Government intensified efforts to stop Oil theft and illegal bunkering, in order to increase revenues for greater impact in the Niger Delta”, he added
Earlier, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has appealed to the NDDC to take steps to urgently complete all ongoing and abandoned projects in the region.
According to the governor, the interventions of the agency are crucial in facilitating urban renewal, creating employment opportunities for our people, fostering urban-rural integration, and enabling regional economic growth.
Oborevwori said that the forum was a strategic platform for the states in the Niger Delta region to focus on issues and challenges of common interest, create a more dynamic and equitable arrangement for regional prosperity, and deepen their collaboration for using the region’s natural resources for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
” I also expect this meeting to develop the blueprint for a more robust and effective public-private partnership to accelerate industrialisation in our various states”, he stressed.
Present at the Council meeting include Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Mr. Okechukwu Emetulu Deputy Gov of Abia state, Deputy Gov. of Bayelsa State, deputy gov of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, Mr John Eno Ewa Sports Development Minister, Monarchs from the region, amongst others.
