UNDP to provide N1.68trn for Niger Delta development

The Minister/ Deputy Chairman, National Planning
Commission, Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, has disclosed that
the sum of $10bn would be provided by the United Nation
Development Program for the funding of the Niger
Delta Action Plan over the next five years. Sulaiman
made this disclosure at the meeting of stakeholders on the
implementation of the Niger Delta Action Plan, hosted by
the National Planning Commission on Tuesday in Abuja.
The meeting had in attendance, the Minister of Niger
Delta Affairs, Stephen Oru; the UNDP Resident
Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Toure and representatives of
the various development partners in Nigeria.
Sulaiman further explained that, the Niger Delta Action
Plan was developed following various consultations with,
and support of the International Development Partners,
noting that this was aimed at providing a coherent and
coordinated development strategy for the region
A statement from the NPC quoted Sulaiman to have
said, “You will also recall that the plan is a strategic and
coherent development implementation strategy for social and
infrastructural development in the Delta region.
“It describes the road map to achieve sustainable and
positive change in the region to radically stem the wave of
youth restiveness.”
He described the action plan as a landmark achievement in
addressing the problems of the Niger-Delta region,
adding that “an era of contractors abandoning construction
sites after collecting money has come to end, as effective
monitoring and accountability will be ensured by the
Commission.”
 Oru, who also spoke at the meeting, stated that the plight
of the people of Niger–Delta region is fast receiving the
much needed attention it deserves, stressing that the federal
government cannot do it alone.
He said the document when implemented would help to
curb incessant cases of duplication of projects implementation
and waste of resources due to multiple claims.