Niger Delta stakeholders have stressed the urgent need to re-activate the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Advisory Committee as provided for in its Establishment Act, to advise and monitor the activities of the Commission. This was part of the resolutions contained in a communique issued at the end of the Niger Delta Stakeholders’ Summit 2024, which took place at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
The summit, which brought together stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting the region and its development, with a view to further transform it, agreed that all funds due and outstanding to the NDDC from statutory sources (including the Federal Government and ecological fund) be vigorously pursued and recovered.
The stakeholders, according to a statement signed by the commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, on Saturday, underscored the importance of increased synergy between the NDDC and the Advisory Committee to achieve more efficiency and activate all organs provided for in the Act.
The stakeholders addressed the issue of development agencies working at cross purposes and resolved that measures must be taken “to avoid duplication of projects and efforts in the region by ensuring robust consultation between the NDDC and the nine member states in project implementation.”
The summit affirmed: “There is urgent need to remove the NDDC from the TSA Policy, as it limits the Commission from fully achieving its interventionist mandate. That the Federal Government should strictly adhere to the tenure provisions of the NDDC Act and avoid the incessant dissolution of Boards of the Commission and the aberrant issue of Interim Managements to run the affairs of the Commission.
“Also, the Commission should be insulated from Political interference which puts undue pressure on the leadership of the Commission.”
It also agreed “that additional sources of funding for the NDDC such as at least 3 percent of VAT revenue should be legislated.”
The stakeholders resolved that funding the implementation of the regional development strategy should be done through three sources: Traditional budget sources; Public Private Partnerships; Development Finance.
To support the funding plans, they agreed that the initiation of the Niger Delta Development Bank, NDDB, to drive the mobilisation of development finance from local and global sources should be given priority. “Loans should be given to SMEs within the region to drive economic and industrial growth.”
The communique stated: “There is urgent need to complete the East-West Road which was awarded nearly twenty years ago, to ease transportation across the region.
It further called for a thorough consideration of the NDDC (Establishment) Act, with a view to initiating amendments of the Act, where necessary.
On the issue of preparing a new roadmap for development, the stakeholders resolved that “proper planning is crucial to any development and therefore the review of the Niger Delta Regional Development Masterplan, appropriate data gathering was essential to any realistic development plan. There must be quantitative and qualitative input from key stakeholders in preparing or reviewing the Masterplan.”
The communique called for a regular convocation of stakeholder engagements.
