NAN-H-62
Synergy
By Lizzy Agbaji
Abuja, Nov. 7, 2016, (NAN) The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, says synergy among stakeholders and development partners is vital to addressing the social and infrastructural challenges of the Niger Delta region.
Usani said this at a workshop on the validation of the report of a baseline survey of social and infrastructural resource base in the region.
The minister said in a statement signed by Mr Marshall Gundu, the Director, Press and Public Relations, that the ministry that the decided to conduct baseline survey in view of the challenges confronting the people.
He said that the ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), commissioned a consulting firm, African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building to conduct the baseline survey.
He urged the participants to review the report critically and come up with a document that could be used to attract interest and funds for the provision of infrastructure in the region.
He said that the final report, when ratified, would help reduce duplication of projects by government and stakeholders in the region.
The minister also requested the UNDP to assist in training staff of the ministry in some critical areas of its operations in the region.
He further advised government agencies, stakeholders and development partners to always carry along benefiting communities in projects that affect them.
The minister commended UNDP for funding the survey and the workshop, adding that the support would fast track developmental efforts in the Niger Delta Region.
The Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Claudius Daramola, also commended the consultant of the project, Prof. Olu Ajakaiye.
Daramola said that there was the need for periodic research to appraise the work of the ministry, other government agencies, stakeholders and development partners in the region.
Ajakaiye, while presenting an overview of the baseline survey, said that it focused on education and health facilities, water and sanitation, transport, road, air, water/maritime and power.
He said that the outcome of the survey showed that the region was relatively under-served with respect to key social and infrastructural facilities.
He advised that to effectively address the challenges of the region, a comprehensive needs assessment and facilities distribution mechanism was required in each of the nine Niger Delta states.
According to the statement, participants from the Niger Delta states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers attended the workshop.
It said that raised some issues on findings of the baseline survey.
They also requested for a period of two weeks for the reconciliation of some facts and figures before the final validation of the survey. (NAN)
LIZ/GOM/NKO
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Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Nkechi Okoronkwo
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