FG Seeks Better Synergy with IOCs to Develop Niger Delta

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja 

The Ministry of Niger Delta Development (MNDD), has stated that it was proposing new strategies to promote greater synergy with a view to bolstering the overall development of the region through collaborative efforts with the international oil companies (IOCs).

The Minister in charge of the ministry,  Abubakar Momoh made the disclosure during a meeting between the ministry, IOCs and other stakeholders in Abuja, Tuesday.

He noted that the meeting was designed to to brainstorm and share the visions of the present administration on how best to collaborate and promote the development of the region through extra-budgetary provisions aimed at meeting the needs of the region through the implementation of the ‘Eight Thematic Areas’ of the presidential agenda.

According to the minister, “this has become imperative due to the short-falls in the ministry’s finances, a situation that has made it practically impossible for it to effectively discharge its assigned mandate in the region.

“This initiative for support from stakeholders like you, is very important, for the current relative peace and security in the region to be improved upon, if government policies projects and programmes, for the well being of the people must be seamlessly implemented, while a condusive environment for investments and business in the region is also created,” he said in a statement issued by the ministry.

Momoh noted that the ministry had made considerable in-roads, in terms of the development of infrastructure and human capacity development in the region. 

He highlighted other high-impact programmes that are targeted focal areas such as in the aspects of peace and security, training and empowerment of youth and women, establishment of host community trust fund, and gas flaring.

Others are oil theft and bunkering menace, upscale in corporate social responsibility and strategic implementation work plan.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, MNDD, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, implored IOCs and stakeholders to approach the gathering with utmost sense of purpose and open-mindedness, with the aim of adding value to the lives of the people in the Niger Delta region.