The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio has said that the launch of the ‘Strategic Implementation Work Plan’ (SIWP) by this administration would go a long way in ending the era of duplication of projects in the Niger Delta region.
Sen. Akpabio made this statement during the official Public Presentation and Launch of the SIWP on Thursday in Abuja.
The Minister noted that in fulfilling the present administration’s promise to push for uncommon development in the Niger Delta Region, “it was imperative to critically review previous policies and efforts geared at developing the region by our predecessors. This was to effectively guide our interventions as well as take the best policy options to achieve much faster optimal results for peace and prosperity by eliminating challenges faced in the region”.
According to him, SIWP is the critical instrument identified to trigger the anticipated change in the region.
He noted that it is a collaborative framework designed to coordinate all development interventions of both Government Agencies and Private Organizations operating in the area.
The former Akwa Ibom State Governor further stated that the strategic implementation work plan is not a new initiative, it emerged as a result of concerted and several high level political engagements by the Federal Government with key stakeholders of the region in 2016.
Apkabio added that SIWP was initially anchored by the office of the Vice President before the MNDA took charge due to its oversight mandate in the region which is expected to end the uncoordinated manner development initiatives were being implemented.
Earlier, the Minister of State, MNDA, Sen. Donald Omotayo Alasoadura recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in its meeting of March 10, 2021 approved the utilization of SIWP as a tool for joint work-planning and transparent coordination of the development of the Niger Delta Region.
Alasoadura explained “the Federal Government continues to implement several policies and programmes that will foster growth and create necessary enabling environment required for the development of the Niger Delta region and the country at large”.
The Minister of State recognized the effort of partners on the project, United Kingdom through stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN) and Facility for Oil Sector Transformation (FOSTER), in providing quality technical support which made the launch of SIWP today possible.
He therefore enjoined all Stakeholders to be part of the initiative after the launch of SIWP e-portal to set the ball rolling in the tracking of all projects in the region.
The Permanent Secretary, MNDA, Dr. Babayo Ardo reiterated that the Ministry is committed to implementing initiatives geared towards the socio-economic development of the region.
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