• Sat. Nov 2nd, 2024

Akpabio, GEJ, Diri, Others Attend Niger Delta Summit 2024 In Port Harcourt

Jul 13, 2024
Akpabio, GEJ, Ebie and OthersAkpabio, GEJ, Ebie and Others

Akpabio, GEJ, Diri Others Attend South South Summit 2024 In Port Harcourt

NDDC Has Seen the light – Jonathan

…Akpabio Assures Of Federal Government’s Willingness To Develop The Region

…. I am full of hope that this interaction will reshape opinions and dispositions – Ebie, Chairman, NDDC’s Governing Board.

The city of Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital witnessed heavy human and vehicular traffic as President of the Nigerian Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, Governor Duoye Diri, Executive Governor of Bayelsa state, Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, among others on Friday, July 12, stormed the historic Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit 2024, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South-south Nigeria.

They were received by Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, ably supported by Managing Director of the Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and other members of the board and management.

The summit, organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), assembled the people of the Niger Delta and policy experts to develop strategies and articulate a roadmap for economic growth and development of the region.

The theme of the summit is Renewed Hope for Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta region.

President Bola Tinubu was represented by the Senate President at the summit today as a special guest of honour, while former President Goodluck Jonathan will serve as the summit’s chairperson.

Speaking at the event, former President Goodluck Jonathan stated that NDDC  has seen the light under the present board and management, noting that he is convinced that the agency is serious in achieving its statutory mandate.

SEE ALSO: THE NEW DAWN AT NDDC By; Jerome-Mario Utomi

While he pleaded with politicians not to interfere in the affairs of the agency, elated Jonathan admonished NDDC governing board and management to start thinking of ways to address the challenge of abandoned projects.

In a similar vein, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio assured the people of the region that President Bola Tinubu is desirous of developing the region, adding that the Commission’s budget 2024 bears eloquent testimony to this assertion.

IMG-20240712-WA0036 Akpabio, GEJ, Diri, Others Attend Niger Delta Summit 2024 In Port Harcourt

Akpabio praised the current board and management for the great feat achieved within a short period and therefore, urged them to do more in line with Mr. President’s renewed hope agenda to bring sustainable development to the region and its people.

During Wednesday’s session, the Chairman, Governing Board of NDDC, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, implored all contributors

to make concise and constructive submissions that will guide the discourse. ‘’I urge everyone to ensure this summit is free of disruptive behavior, unpleasant commentaries, and unfounded speculations’’.

‘We implore all contributors to make concise and constructive submissions that will guide our discourse. I urge everyone to ensure this summit is free of disruptive behavior, unpleasant commentaries, and unfounded speculations.  ‘I am full of hope that this interaction will reshape opinions and dispositions. Through this dialogue, we aim to secure stakeholders’ commitment to protect projects in their localities as the primary beneficiaries.  This is a major challenge we must address as part of a larger objective to create the right environment for prosperity in the Niger Delta’’.

For his part, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, spoke on the summit’s significance. He also enumerated the achievements of the NDDC under his leadership and the plans to further develop the Niger Delta region, pointing out that the agency was not competing with state governors.

In his lead presentation on Wednesday, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said his office would set up a specialised department to tackle insecurity in the Niger Delta region.

The Wednesday session also featured discussions by experts on seven thematic issues of development in the Niger Delta.

Seven syndicate groups brainstormed on the issues and presented recommendations for the identified developmental challenges in the region.

Goodwill messages were received from the Senator representing Cross River Central District, Eteng Jonah, Deputy Chairperson, House Committee on NDDC at the House of Representatives, Jafaru Leko, and several traditional rulers.