By Ayodele Oni
President Bola Tinubu has said that the present administration attached importance to the construction of the East- West highway because of its commercial viability.
Describing the highway as a priority of the administration, the president stated that it connects the nation’s busiest and foremost commercial cities.
He spoke at the 6th meeting of the National Council on Niger Delta (NCND) in, Asaba, Delta State, with the theme “Stimulating Strategies for Economic Growth and Development in the Niger Delta Region.”
Declaring the meeting open, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assured that his administration would prioritize the completion of the East-West Road in view of its importance not only to the Niger Delta states but to the entire country.
Represented by the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, the President declared that “The East-West Road project is the largest infrastructure project in Nigeria today, and the reason is not far-fetched; It is a very strategic road connecting the nation’s busiest and foremost commercial cities in the country.
“Its completion is a priority to this administration, and this I assure you will be delivered in the very nearest future. On a broader scale, we are dedicated to ensuring that our local refineries across the Nicer Delta and other parts of the country are made operational soonest.”
He said the administration was repositioning the Niger Delta Development Ministry and the NDDC to harmonize all development plans of agencies and partners operating in the region into a single integrated regional development plan to actualize their mandate.
The President restated his commitment towards resuscitating refineries in the country to ensure petroleum products availability and reduction in their retail prices.
His word: “It will gladden you to note that my administration has demonstrated interest in repositioning the NDDC to ensure it delivers optimally on its objectives and mandate, and to make it achievements manifest in different sectors of life across the Niger Delta region.
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri and his Delta counterpart, Francis Oborevwori and other stakeholders called on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Niger Delta Ministry to collaborate more effectively with subnational governments in the region.
In a goodwill message, Governor Diri noted that effective collaboration between the Niger Delta Ministry, the NDDC and the nine states would fast-track the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta.
The Governor, who was represented by his deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, maintained that such cooperation would equally enable the ministry and the interventionist agency to better deliver on their mandate.
In their separate remarks, the Governor of Delta State, Chief Francis Oborevwori and his Imo State counterpart, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said it was high time the resources meant for the region were used for its development.
Chief Oborevwori emphasized the need for NDDC and the Niger Delta ministry to complete their uncompleted projects in the region, particularly the East-West road, which had been under construction for decades.
