FG To Harmonize All Niger-Delta Development Plans

The federal government has said there is a new resolve to harmonise all the development plans in the Niger Delta region.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Development (MNDD), Dr. Shuaib Belgore who disclosed this in a statement said the federal government has set up a committee to work out the modalities to achieve this plan.

The move will see the Ministry of Niger Delta Development (MNDD) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) development plans collapsed into a single regional development plan.

Belgore said, “The harmonization of the existing development plans in the Niger Delta Region was one of the ten 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.

“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.

“The staggered development plans have been said to be largely responsible for the lack of coordinated development in the Niger Delta region, as everyone works in a silo.

“As a result of this, the federal government is planning on the need to harmonize the plans.

“Therefore, it has directed the Ministry to complete the process of harmonizing 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.”