N’Delta: NOSDRA Blames States Govt For Lack Of Dev

The Zonal Director of National Oil Spill Detection And Response Agency (NOSDRA), Sir Cyrus Titus Nkangwung says effective and sustainable development in Niger Delta would only materialize, if there was transparency and accountability in governance by state governments of the region.
Nkangwung, who made this known recently at the Niger Delta Civic Engagement Forum held in Port Harcourt, blamed poor governance in the region for its under-development.
The agency’s director said, Niger Delta has abundant human and material resources that could facilitate sustainable development and diversification of the economy but accused the governments and development agencies such as Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of diverting the resources to further the personal interests of politicians in the region.
Nkangwung also called for greater citizens’ participation, and improved access to governance to create trust between government and the people.
He further called for proper utilization of public resources and development partnership among the states in the region.
Nkangwung, who advocated openness and transparency in formation and implementation of the appropriation laws of Niger Delta States,  advised members of the National and States Assemblies from the region to step up their oversight on Niger Delta state governments and Institutions to improve their effectiveness and ensure good governance.
Also speaking, the resource person at the forum, Mrs Tammie Kammonke from Cross River State, called on federal and state governments to encourage civic education in the school curriculum to promote attitudinal change in the society.
She said, the current attitudinal behaviours of Niger Delta citizens, particularly the youth, would continue to undermine the development of the region.
According to her, addressing the problems of Niger Delta rests with the citizens and not the resources, saying that the citizens must assert their rights for development to take place in the region.
Kammonke said, the situation in Niger Delta was even getting worse as the recent statistics show that participatory education of youth, particularly the boys has dropped to 30 per cent in the region, as a result of high involvement of youth in illegal bunkering business and militancy.
According to her, the region would lack viable human resources, if the trend continues in the next 30 years.

Enoch Epelle