Jonathan Appeals to NDDC to Finish Overdue Projects in Niger Delta

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on the Ministry of Niger Delta Development and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to prioritize completing abandoned projects in the region. At the Niger Delta Stakeholders Forum 2024, held at the Obi Wali International Conference Center, Jonathan praised the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, and the NDDC board for their performance and urged them to ensure that all incomplete projects are finished.

Engr. Momoh, who hosted the forum, stressed the importance of environmental sustainability and economic diversification in the Niger Delta. He highlighted ongoing efforts such as the Ogoni Clean-up Project and initiatives for cleaner energy, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). The Minister also emphasized the need to diversify the region’s economy by investing in tourism and the blue economy, while assuring the audience of the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, citing recent projects like the Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State.

Momoh aligned the forum’s theme, “Renewed Hope for Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta Region,” with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’ He called for a collective effort to harness the region’s resources and cultural heritage for sustainable development and stressed the necessity of peace and security in addressing unrest and conflict.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the NDDC’s board for their work and highlighted the need for strategic management and continuity for stalled projects like the East-West Road. Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke advocated for investment in agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and technology to ensure long-term prosperity for the region.

The forum was attended by notable figures, including Senate President Akpabio, former Governors Donald Duke and Seriake Dickson, and traditional rulers from across the Niger Delta. Other attendees included Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Abia State Deputy Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.