Speaker Tasks European Union On N’Delta Dev

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, has called on the European Union (EU) to create programmes and policies that would assist in the development of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

The Speaker made the call while receiving the Head of the delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, Ambassador David Macrae who paid him a courtesy call in his office in Port Harcourt recently.

The Speaker who was represented by his Deputy, Hon Leyii Kwane, representing Khana Constituency II in the Assembly, expressed gratitude over the interest of the European Union in the development of the Niger Delta.

He said the Niger Delta needed the support of the European Union to address most of its challenges, especially in the area of infrastructural development.

The Deputy Speaker listed key areas of development concern in the Niger Delta to include, amnesty programme, UNEP report on Ogoni and issues of security.

He also urged the European Union to see the Rivers State House of Assembly as development partners, especially in the area of training of the lawmakers for effective legislation.

Earlier, the Head of the European Union delegation Ambassador David Macrae, had told the Speaker that the European Union attached particular importance to the development of the Niger Delta.

He said specialised programmes had been designed by the Union to assist in the development of the region especially in capacity building, adding that plans had been concluded to enhance a collaborative development network between the Union and the Rivers State Government through a signed agreement.

Beemene Taneh