We are involving N/Delta communities in project ownership ―FG

IN realisation that lack of ownership has been one of the factors responsible for the abandonment of projects and poor maintenance culture in the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government is collaborating with the European Union is currently involving the people at the grassroots in the various communities in projects ownership.

The Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Moses Okpo disclosed this while inaugurating an Inter-Departmental Task Group (ITG) on the European Union Assisted water Project (NDSP-3) in Abuja.

It would be recalled that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has been having series of collaborative meeting with the Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP-3) Team since April, 2016. The programme is aimed at providing clean and safe water to various communities in the Niger Delta region with five states as pioneers.

Mr Okpo stated that the programme would improve the quality of water being consumed by the would-be beneficiaries in the region.

“For the projects, we are establishing, we are creating ownership for them to involve people in such projects.” He added.

He noted that letting people see themselves as the owners of Federal Government’s projects in their communities would save the government a lot of funds being lost to vandalisation as the people will be made to protect and maintain the projects.

The Overseeing Director reiterated that the mandate of the Task Group was to, among other things, monitor the operations of the Niger Delta Support Programme and the mainstreaming of the project in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs before the exit period of 2019.

He stressed that the synergy between the Ministry and the Niger Delta Support Group on water supply (NDSP-3) was intended to ensure that the exiting outcomes of the programme was long lasting and sustainable after its completion, urging the Task Team to work towards achieving the desired goals.

In his remarks, the team leader for the European Union Niger Delta Support Programme, Mr Albert Achten said the programme’s methodology has been successful over the years, saying the warm reception his team received from the Ministry would further enhance the success of the programme in the Niger Delta region.

The 7-man Task Group was drawn from the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with the Director Community Development and Education (CDE) in the Ministry, Mrs Dikianga Braide as the Chairperson.

Responding, the Chairperson of the Task Group, Mrs Dikianga Braide said the inauguration of the team was a testament of the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani’s commitment to the success of the project as promised in his interactions with the European Team since 2016.

In attendance at the inauguration was the National Authorizing Officer for the programme in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr Lanre Opanubi.

The NDSP is being funded by the European Union, AKwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Rivers States.