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Delta
faults NDDC master plan
By
Tunke-Aye Bisina
reporter,
Asaba
The much
talked about Regional Master Plan drawn up by the Niger DeltaDevelopment
Commission (NDDC) came under severe criticism at the weekend from the
Delta State Governor, Chief James Ibori and top officials of his
government when it was presented to them at Government House,
Asaba.
The
governor also kicked against the proposed amendment of the law
establishing the commission where the a reduction in the funding from the
Federal Government and oil companies are being sought.
Ibori and
his officers, while not against the idea of a master plan for the
development of the Niger Delta region viewed what was presented to them as
not giving priority attention to key developmental concerns of the
area.
The draft
master plan which identified poverty as the key issue in the region had
placed emphasis on reducing it through such means as industrialization,
education among other measures.
But Ibori
stated that development of physical infrastructures like roads were the
fulcrum upon which any developmental effort in the area could stand,
stressing that any thing to the contrary would not appease people of the
area.
Ibori
particularly pointed out that the dualisation of the East West Road that
links the major oil cities of Port Harcourt and Warri is strategic to the
development of the area and wondered why the master plan was silent on
that road.
The
governor was also not comfortable with the projections of the master plan
on the participation of other levels of government towards the development
of the area based on their monthly allocation. He stated that it should
have taken into account the recurrent expenditures of those governments,
stressing that some local governments after paying salaries have nothing
left for capital projects.
He
reiterated his call for adequate funding of the commission and kicked
against the amendment being proposed for the enabling law where the
presidency is seeking a reduction in the percentages contributed by the
federal government and oil companies while wanting the state to contribute
10 per cent of their allocation.
According
to him, rather than a reduction, the federal government if it wants the
states to contribute that sum should also increase its own financial
commitment and those of the oil companies.
The Delta
State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Tom Amioku, also reacting to the
presentation condemned the present effort of the commission in the
provision of learning materials and water among others, insisting that it
should leave such project to the governments concerned and concentrate on
physical infrastructures like roads, bridges.
Professor
Godoni Darah, special adviser to the governor on public communication, in
his observation noted that the master plan did not take into cognizance
the wealth derived from the region but only portrayed it as an area in
distress that the federal government was coming to salvage.
Managing
Director of the Commission, Chief Emmanuel Aguariavwodo in his opening
remarks had noted that the master plan was still at the draft stage and
suggestions from the stakeholders would be incorporated into the final
plan.
The plan billed to kick off
next year is expected to accelerate and solve the developmental concerns
of the area within the next 15 years.
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