By Jimoh Babatunde

The Director of Development and Leadership Institute, Olaoshebikan Clement, has called on the leadership of the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry to pursue the comprehensive implementation of the Niger Delta Master plan.

Gas pipeline in the Niger Delta

Speaking at a forum in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while reviewing development issues on how to rapidly achieve meaningful development in the Niger Delta region, Clement said that real development can be achieved with the implementation of the Niger Delta master plan.

He said: “This can be realised if leadership in the region led by that of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, pursues the resolution of the implementation of several policy issues that have yet remained unresolved in the region.

“As a matter of urgency, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru, should begin the process of achieving real development in the Niger Delta, by focusing on resolving the implementation of the four key policy issues which have for a long time remained a sore thumb in the region.”

He said that expectations were high in the region, with the Muhammadu Buhari administration’s change mantra.

“Leadership of the ministry must, therefore, move away from the failure of the past and sincerely focus on implementation rather than the formulation of new policies. The minister should seize the moment and work with other agencies of government at all levels to focus on the implementation of four key policies in the region.”

He listed them as: “Comprehensive implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, peport recommendations on Ogoniland and the extension of key recommendations of the report relating to environmental pollution and degradation to other areas in the Niger Delta region and the comprehensive unveiling of the Niger Delta Master plan.”