By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT— Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission,  NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, has called for synergy among stakeholders to tackle the challenges of underdevelopment in the region.

Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the opening of a one-day forum of Partners for Sustainable Development, Mrs Semenitari said partnering was the new way for business and institutions to develop.

Speaking on Partnership/Partnering: Strategies to Deepen Collaboration with tiers of Government and Development Agencies, she  assured that the NDDC would  support  any partnership among stakeholders that will promote development in the region, adding that such move will eliminate duplication of functions and responsibilities among stakeholders in the development drive.

She said that the commission was already collaborating with several others in environment and social services, stressing that more could still be achieved. Semenitari recalled that through partnership between Shell and NDDC, the construction of  Ogbia-Nembe Road was realised.

She appealed to international development agencies to collaborate with NDDC in the area of funding to redress the challenges in the region.

On his part,  former governor of old Rivers State, His Royal Majesty, Amayannabo of Twom Brass,  Alfred Diete Spiff called for development of the region, adding that neglect of the region was largely responsible for the issue of militancy and related challenges.