Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Development (MNDD), Engr. Abubakar Momoh has said that renaming the Ministry to Ministry of Niger Delta Development is to actualize the components and elements of development which is embedded in the mandate of the ministry and ensure that the ministry moves beyond rhetoric to making sure that its objectives are realized.
The Minister made this statement during a press briefing organized by the ministry to outline the programmes and agenda that would foster transformation in infrastructural development, economic empowerment and ensure peace and security in the region.
“We all know that the ministry of Niger Delta Development is critical and strategic to the economic development of the country, hence the implication of the re-designation of the ministry is to ensure that everything about it encompass the development of the region and we must brace up to face the challenges”
Speaking further, the Minister noted that his coming to the ministry is to work together with related ministries, non-governmental agencies and other stakeholders, so as to able to deliver on the mandate of Mr. President’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ which the ministry is expected to keen into.
“Going forward, the ministry would have to deviate from the past to making sure that the co-operate objectives of the administration in the area are achieved. The region being the economic nerve centre of the nation, we are looking forward to a region that is built around a very peaceful environment. We want a Niger Delta region that is properly secured, with functional infrastructural system and where the economic activity of the area is growing from strength to strength”, he stated.
According to the former lawmaker, he noted that the challenges around the East-West road would be revisited particularly as it concerns the Eleme Junction and the economic importance of the road to the industries situated in that area.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, in his welcome address explained that the inauguration of the ministry by late President Yar Adua was to ensure that development flows rapidly into the region. The Ministry which covers nine states of the region, has carried out a lot of projects and programmes in the aspect economic empowerment, skills acquisition, housing and others. “Though in the past two months the face of development has slow down due to the absence of a minister, but we are ready to give you maximum support in other to achieve the objectives of the federal government”.