Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe, has said $100 billion is required to realise goals set for the first 15 years of the Master Plan for the Niger Delta.
Alaibe observed that the region had vast investment opportunities for Nigerians in diaspora and foreign investors, stressing that for the first time, a holistic development plan was now in place with strong backing of relevant stakeholders.
The NDDC boss spoke on Saturday in Yenagoa during a paper he presented at the South South caucus retreat for members of the House of Representatives, titled: “The Niger Delta Region and the Challenges of Sustainable Development.”
“For the first time, we are building on existing structures rather than the common tear-down-and-start-again, syndrom which had bred mistrust and disillusionment; and the future is becoming bright for the Niger Delta region,”he said.
Alaibe appealed to all stakeholders to exercise sufficient political will and assist mobilise adequate funding to ensure the success of the Niger Delta regional development master plan that would facilitate a comprehensive development of the area.
He said it was imperative for stakeholders, to exhibit a greater capacity for collaboration, demonstrate transparency, accountability and resource optimisation in governance.
While insisting on good governance at all levels in a bid to resolve the challenges facing the region, the NDDC boss stressed that the people must be the bedrock of their development, adding that public service should be viewed as a critical vehicle to truly serve the people.
Said he: “There is now unprecedented co-operation and co-ordination of the development activities on the platform of the masterplan, paving way for synergy and a reduction in duplication of efforts and wastage of scarce resources.”
According to him, the stage is now set for the accelerated development, while peace is settling to end the spate of crisis in the region.
Alaibe said the proposed East-West railway from Calabar to Lagos and a coastal road from Calabar to Lagos, would open up tourism and industrial potential along the coastal belt.
He urged the National Assembly to maintain effective oversight of statutory contributors to the NDDC fund, to ensure full compliance as well as effect appropriate amendments to the NDDC Act to strengthen the discharge of its mandate.