A pro-democracy and good governance group in the Niger Delta region, Niger Delta Network (NDN), has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Umana Okon Umana the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs on various reforms in the NDDC and the development of the the Niger Delta region.
The group made the disclosure in a press statement by Dr. John Douglas, director cooperate communications, Niger Delta Network (NDN) in Port Harcourt, recently.
The Niger Delta Network (NDN) hinted that the administration of President Buhari and Mr. Umana Umana as Minister has shown keen interest in the development of the Niger Delta region as demonstrated in the inauguration of members of the 7th governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC) , saying that with a substantive board for NDDC in place it is poised to spearhead development in the region.
NDN also commended the gracious approval for the release of NDDC funds recovered from oil companies for use in the development of core infrastructural projects in the region.
According to the release, “the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs completed more than 393km of the roads while the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) accounted for more than 1,481km. According to the group, the roads, water and electricity projects were delivered across the nine states of the Niger Delta region.
“Other achievements listed, included the completion of the head office building of the NDDC in Port Harcourt and the construction of a multi – skills acquisition centre with a 500-student boarding capacity in each of the nine states of the Niger Delta region.
“The skills acquisition centre in Bayelsa State was completed and handed over to the Federal University of Otuoke, adding that two other centres completed in Ondo and Imo were also handed over to their respective states”.
The group thanked the minister for the reintroduction of scholarship programme in NDDC, pointing that this will help to train man power for the oil sector of the economy.
In the area of infrastructural development, the total tally of hard infrastructure projects in various sectors delivered by the Federal government to the Niger Delta region during the Buhari’s administration stands at 2, 786, made up of 580 delivered by the Ministry and 2, 206 by the NDDC.
“The Buhari- led administration, has also performed credibly in terms of social programmes. According to the Niger Delta Network(NDN), 6, 293 women and youths were trained and empowered with cash and equipment worth N5.5 billion. Each of the trainees received cash support ranging from N300,000 to N500,000 and starter packs. Materials delivered to the trainees included tractors, tricycles, sewing, grinding and hair- dressing machines”. The statement noted.
The group further disclosed that that the key policy focus of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs during the period included the maintenance of peace and security, coordination of development initiatives based on the harmonization of the various development plans into one holistic roadmap, and the repositioning of the NDDC for effective service delivery.
The Niger Delta Network (NDN), used the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Umana Okon Umana on his meritorious award as 2022 Minister of year, by Daily Independent newspapers.
“He was honoured for his contributions towards the growth and development of the country, through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.”
NDN explained that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was deepening transparency and accountability with the publication of annual reports and a statistical digest on its operations, and promised to further strengthen good governance with the publication of compendiums of completed projects by both the Ministry and NDDC in 2023.
The group hinted that the recently concluded Niger Delta Development Commission Public- Private Partnership Summit, held in Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos marked a watershed in the eventful history of the interventionist agency. It heralded a significant shift in approach by the Commission towards sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
Niger Delta Network scored President Buhari and Mr. Umana Okon Umana high in achievement, based on their impressive performance in the Niger Delta region while soliciting for the reappointment of Mr. Umana Okon Umana as Minister, in order to consolidate on the various reforms he initiated in NDDC and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.