By Obiabin Onukwugha
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The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has stated that it is working in conjunction with the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, to establish an integrated master plan for the development of the Niger Delta region.
This was made known by the NDDC Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Davies Okarevu, during a two-day workshop on Harmonisation of the Niger Delta Regional Development Strategy for Directors of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development and NDDC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
A statement by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama indicated that the document to be known as Niger Delta Regional Development Strategy, NDRDS, would improve on the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, the Ministry of Niger Delta Action Plan and the International Oil Companies, IOCs , Regional plan in line with the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the development of the region.
According to the statement, Okarevu observed that the workshop would enable the participants to have a mastery of the different regional plans to be able to integrate them into one for the development of the region.
He noted that another workshop would be organised for different stakeholders, including commissioners of economic planning, IOCs, traditional and community leaders, among others, in order to come up with a sustainable development plan for the Niger Delta region.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore, represented by Mr. Paul Abia, emphasised the need for a harmonised Niger Delta Regional Development Master plan, which according to him, was key to achieving the development of the region.
He urged participants and drivers of the policy to come together to ensure that a useful and sustainable document was produced for the region.
In his presentation, the lead consultant of the project, Dr Atei Beredugo, said that seven basic pillars were identified as tools that needed to be addressed to enhance the development of the Niger Delta region.
He said: “We have come to the realisation that the seven pillars which must jointly be looked into for the Niger Delta region to move forward must include finance, security, economy (infrastructure), agriculture, oil and gas, good governance and we are focusing on the pathway to put together a strategy that will enable us achieve a sustainable and growth quality, poverty and hunger reduction, and what have you in the region.”
The NDDC Director, Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Patrick Ekade, noted that the workshop was organised to bring together directors from the Ministry of Niger Delta Development and NDDC to understand their roles in the implementation of the Niger Delta Development Master plan.
He stated: “The essence of the two-day workshop is for the various directors that are going to implement the document to understand what they need to do towards the development of the region when the document is finally approved by Mr. President.”
One of the participants and the NDDC Acting Director, Abuja liaison office, Mrs. Mary Nwaeke, expressed optimism in the project, noting that it would bring about a new beginning and direction for the stakeholders and development partners in the Niger Delta region.
