PRESIDENT TINUBU RE-ASSURES NIGER-DELTA ON COMMITMENTS TO TRANSFORM THE INFRASTRUCTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SECURITY FORTUNES OF THE REGION
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has assured the people of the Niger Delta of the commitments of the ‘Renewed Hope’ Administration to transform the infrastructural, economic and security fortunes of the region.
President Tinubu gave the assurances while declaring open the 6th National Council on Niger Delta (6th NCND) on Tuesday in Asaba, Delta State, with the theme “Stimulating Strategies for Economic Growth and Development in the Niger Delta Region.”
The President, who was represented at the event by the Honourable Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, said that the Federal Government is dedicated to ensuring the operationalization of all local refineries across the Niger Delta Region and other parts of the country, the completion of the East-West Road, as well as addressing the challenges of the region for its sustainable growth and development.
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He said that the focus of the Council is in tandem with the cardinal objectives of his “Renewed Hope Agenda”, which goes beyond driving economic growth in Nigeria to creating jobs, improving security, education and health care, reducing poverty and building an equitable society for all Nigerians, which is expected to bring succour to citizens in difficult times.
“As part of the Federal Government’s efforts to address the challenges of underdevelopment and insecurity in the Niger Delta Region, my administration is committed to implementing projects and programmes geared towards addressing the diverse needs of its people for sustainable growth and development in the region.
“Government has developed a holistic plan for the development of the Niger Delta Region and, indeed, all parts of Nigeria in terms of infrastructure and harnessing the bountiful resources of all parts of our great country, as evident in the Ministerial Performance Bond for Presidential Priorities and Deliverables for 2023-2027, which was signed between the Minister of Niger Delta Development and myself, as well as with all members of the Federal Executive Council.
“The East-West Road is the largest infrastructure project in Nigeria today. It is a very strategic road connecting the nation’s busiest and foremost commercial cities, across the three regions. Its completion is a priority to this administration, and I assure you that it will be delivered in the near future.
“On a broader scale, we are dedicated to ensuring that our local refineries across the Niger Delta Region and other parts of the country are made operational and put to optimal use as soon as possible. This will ensure petroleum product availability, further reduce the retail cost of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), create more job opportunities for the youth, and grow the nation’s GDP,” President Tinubu said.
President Tinubu tasked the Council Member and stakeholders on constructive engagements that will deal with issues of utmost importance to the well-being of the Niger Delta region, its people, and the country in general.
In his welcome remarks, the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, pledged the commitments of Delta State Government under his administration to the realisation of sustainable development in the region by taking seriously the recommendations from the NCND.
Gov. Oborevwori also charged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to complete ongoing and abandoned projects, and, most importantly, design sustainable projects that will impact positively on the lives of the people of the region.
Also speaking, the Executive Governor of Imo State and Chairman, Progressives Governors Forum, Sen. Hope Uzodinma; commended the council for visible improvements from the past with the inclusion of critical stakeholders in the sixth NCND. The governor also lauded the positive developments in the Ministry of Niger Delta under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration.
The Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, also assured the people of the region of the delivery of impactful and sustainable projects as soon as the 2024 budget is implemented.
Also present at the event were the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Enoh, Chairmen, Senate and House Committees on Niger Delta, Deputy Governors of the Niger-Delta States, among other serving and past top government functionaries.
Lizzy Okoji
SA Media to the Honourable Minister of Steel Development,
Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu.
April 23, 2024.
