The Federal Government said it is working to unify the development plans of Niger Delta Development (MNDD) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) into a single regional development strategy to accelerate growth in the region.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Development (MNDD), Dr. Shuaib Belgore, made this known at the briefing by NDDC on Harmonization of Development Plans in the region, according to the statement made available on Thursday by the Director Press and Public Relations, Chindaya Ahmadu in Abuja.
According to the Permanent Secretary,’ the Harmonisation of the existing Development Plans in the Niger Delta Region was one of the Ten (10) Deliverables the President gave to the Ministry for implementation in the year 2024-2027”.
“We know the year is just starting and it is better we strategically plan our activities towards meeting set objectives that we can all be proud of at the end of the year”.
He recalled that before the Presidential charge, the Ministry was operating the Niger Delta Action Plan, and the NDDC, the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, with other Plans of State Governments and International Oil Companies (IOCs) existing in the Region, noting that these staggered development plans have been said to be largely responsible for lack of coordinated development in the Niger Delta Region, as everyone works in a silo.
According to Belgore, as a result of this, the Federal Government has directed the Ministry to complete the process of harmonising the Plans as it could not be attained under the previous administration.
“To achieve this initiative, I remember that a Committee was set up comprising some staff of the Ministry and NDDC. The Ministry is driving the implementation process, while NDDC is responsible for funding due to insufficient funds in the Ministry to achieve planned outcomes.
“The thinking resulted in the appointment and engagement of a Consultant by NDDC to ensure that the Plans are harmonized”, he stated.
In his response, the Managing Director, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the harmonization of Development Plans is very important to the region, therefore, the directives from Mr. President is a welcome initiative that would create synergy for both the ministry and commission and not to work on cross opposite.
