The Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC,
Engr Nsima Ekere said that the continued community agitations and
pipeline vandalisation which lead to shut in oil wells is reducing
Federal Government income.
Engr Ekere who spoke at a stakeholders engagement program in Port
Harcourt stated that restiveness in Niger Delta and destruction of oil
facilities has constrained their ability to respond to the numerous
development challenges facing Niger Delta region.
Engr Nsima Ekere called on community leaders and other stakeholders
in Niger Delta region to assist the Commission in its peace building
process and sustainable development of the region.
He said that Niger Delta stakeholders can help NDDC improve its
service delivery and sustainable development through various
mechanisms such as need assessment, budget process and post
implementation impact evaluation.
He said ‘’the importance of stakeholders engagement was recently
demonstrated by the Vice President during his peace tour of the
region. The consultation produced a summary of the pressing challenges
facing the stakeholders of the region and these issues are part of an
action plan presently being put together by various government
agencies for execution in their budgets’’
‘’ The region has been facing community agitations and pipeline
vandalism leading to shut in oil wells which reduce federal
government’s income and constraints our ability to respond to the
numerous development challenges facing the Niger Delta.’’
He pointed out that stakeholders can help deal with myriad of
challenges facing the region by improving consultation with relevant
authorities and called on them to be united for the progressive
development of the region.