Group carpets PANDEF over claimed abandoned development plan for Niger Delta

A group, the Delta State Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance (DECGOG), has carpeted the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) for claiming that the blueprint for the development of the Niger Delta has been abandoned by the Federal Government.

The group, in a statement made available to journalists in Warri, stated that the Strategic Implementation Work Plan (SIWP), which was developed by an Inter-Ministerial Committee made of directors from various federal ministries, departments and agencies, and PANDEF’s representatives, is still much alive.

TribuneOnline reports that SIWP was constituted to complement the Federal Government’s efforts at coordinating developmental interventions in the Niger Delta.

PANDEF had, in a report, claimed that the Federal Government had abandoned the Niger Delta development plan, under SIWP by creating another development framework called the Niger Delta New Vision.

DECGOG, which is working to promote the dividends of good governance, peace and security and sustainable development goals in Nigeria, said though the implementation might be slow, it has not abandoned as PANDEF claimed.

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“Though the implementation process is slow in progression, the process has not been abandoned by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.”

The statement emphasized that SIWP is a crucial part of the Niger Delta New Vision to develop the region by all stakeholders.

“We all are stakeholders. So, PANDEF’s claim that the Vice President had abandoned the SIWP for the Niger Delta New Vision clearly misses the point.

“In addition, SIWP has always featured prominently in the presidency’s engagements with stakeholders across the region, of which PANDEF’s representatives have been invited or participated in,” the statement further read.

The group stated that PANDEF had been involved in all discussions and workshops that have been organised by the office of the Vice President on the implementation of the SIWP, and it will be erroneous for PANDEF to accuse the VP Osinbajo of abandoning the programme.

The group, however, identified the need for adequate funding of projects and budget appropriations to the relevant government agencies, as this is crucial to the implementation of SIWP.

The group lauded President, Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President Osinbajo for their political will to implement policies that will lead to the development of the region, calling on all stakeholders to support the efforts of the government to develop the region through the Niger Delta New Vision and SIWP.