UN Agency Earmarks N1.6trn For N’Delta

The Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, has disclosed that the sum of $10bn (about N1.6 trillion)  would be provided by the United Nation Development  Program for the funding of the Niger Delta Action Plan over the next five years.

Sulaiman made this disclosure at the meeting of  stakeholders on the implementation of the Niger Delta Action Plan, hosted by the National Planning Commission yesterday in Abuja.
The meeting had in attendance, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Stephen Oru; the UNDP Resident Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Toure and representatives of the various development partners in Nigeria.
Sulaiman further explained that, the Niger Delta Action Plan was developed following various consultations with, and support of the International Development Partners, noting that this was aimed at providing a coherent and coordinated development strategy for the region.
A statement from the NPC quoted Sulaiman to have said, “You will also recall that the plan is a strategic and coherent development implementation strategy for social and infrastructural development in the Delta region. It describes the road map to achieve sustainable and positive change in the region to radically stem the wave of youth restiveness.”
He described the action plan as a landmark achievement in addressing the problems of the Niger-Delta region, adding that “an era of contractors abandoning construction sites after collecting money has come to end, as effective monitoring and accountability will be ensured by the Commission.”
Oru, who also spoke at the meeting, stated that the plight of the people of Niger–Delta region is fast receiving the much needed attention it deserves, stressing that the federal government cannot do it alone.
He said the document when implemented would help to curb incessant cases of duplication of projects implementation and waste of resources due to multiple claims.

L-R: Special Assistant (Technical) to Hon. Minister of Power, Mr. Imoh Ekpo ; Commissioner, Government and Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Abba Ibrahim; Executive Director, Shared Services, Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED); Mr. Harsh Sharma; and Executive Director, Distribution Services, PHED, Mr. JohnKingsley Achife, at the commissioning of PHED’s New Customer Care Centre in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.