The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana has assured the people of Niger Delta region of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to completing the East West road project, and also ensure Eleme section of the road is turned into a super expressway to underscore its strategic value derived from the quantum of investments across the axis in Rivers State.

The Minister made this known at the opening ceremony of the 5th meeting of the National Council on Niger Delta held in Uyo.

The theme of this year’s Council Meeting was, “Harnessing 21st Century Development Initiatives and Strategies for Greater Development Impacts in the Niger Delta Region”, had stakeholders across the region gathered to deliberate on issues affecting the people.

The Minister explained that one of the objectives of the conference was to canvass for more and sustained collaboration with Development Partners and other Stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes designed for the improvement of life in the Niger Delta region.

Umana added that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was looking forward to cross fertilize ideas and insights that would help move the development process in the region to a new threshold of progress.​​

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The Minister averred that the theme of this year’s conference underscored why the Ministry was established to drive Federal Government’s development plan for the region through the formulation of realistic policies and practical programmes that can be efficiently implemented to better the lot of the people of the region.

“I want to reassure this Meeting of the unstinting concern of President Muhammadu Buhari’s with the place of the Niger Delta region in the development scheme of the nation.

“It is worth noting that the Ministry has made commendable progress at repositioning the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to achieve its core mandate. A Forensic Audit was conducted on all projects and programmes of the Commission from inception to August 2019. The Report of the Forensic Audit has been presented to the President, and a White Paper on it is being awaited.

“Government is committed not just to completing the East West Road but also to turning the Eleme section of the road into a super expressway to underscore its strategic value derived from the quantum of investments across the Eleme Onne axis of the road in Rivers State. The scorecard of achievements in the region since the 4th Council Meeting is actually much longer given progress in the areas of socio economic development, capacity building for women and youths; construction of housing estates; investment in new school and health facilities; provision of electricity and potable water in many communities.

“Government is committed to sustaining these gains and doing more to improve the living standard of the people of the region.” Umana said.

The council meeting featured deliberation and presentation of communique.