The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in partnership with the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, is forging ahead with an ambitious integrated master plan aimed at transforming the Niger Delta region.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the initiative was unveiled by Mr Davies Okarevu, NDDC’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, during a two-day workshop focused on harmonising the Niger Delta Regional Development Strategy.
The workshop, held for directors from both the Ministry and the NDDC, took place in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
In a statement dated September 7 and signed by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs, it was disclosed that the forthcoming document, named the Niger Delta Regional Development Strategy (NDRDS) is set to enhance the existing Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan.
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It added that the new strategy will also integrate the Ministry’s Action Plan and the regional plans of International Oil Companies (IOCs), aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for the region’s development.
Okarevu explained that the workshop’s primary goal was to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the various regional plans, enabling them to merge these into a cohesive strategy for the Niger Delta’s advancement.
He also mentioned plans for a subsequent workshop involving a broader range of stakeholders, including economic planning commissioners, IOCs, traditional and community leaders, to formulate a sustainable development plan for the region.
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Dr Shuaib Belgore, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, represented by Mr Paul Abia, underscored the necessity of a unified Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan.
Belgore stressed that such a plan is crucial for the region’s progress and urged all policy drivers to collaborate in producing a practical and enduring document.
Dr Atei Beredugo, the lead consultant for the project identified seven fundamental pillars essential for the Niger Delta’s development.
The were finance, security, infrastructure, agriculture, oil and gas, good governance, and strategic pathways to achieve sustainable growth, poverty alleviation, and hunger reduction.
Mr Patrick Ekade, NDDC’s Director of Administration and Human Resources, explained that the workshop aimed to ensure that directors from both the Ministry and the NDDC fully understand their roles in implementing the master plan once it receives presidential approval.
Mrs Mary Nwaeke, Acting Director of NDDC’s Abuja liaison office insisted that the project heralds a new era and direction for stakeholders and development partners in the Niger Delta region.
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