By Festus Ahon

ASABA—Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has called for synergy between the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, state governments and stakeholders to ensure the development of the region.

Speaking yesterday in Asaba, when he played host to  the management team of NDDC, led by its acting Managing Director, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, Okowa  said that the partnership would ensure equitable location  and non-duplication of projects in the region, explaining that it would allow stakeholders share information and attract projects beneficial to the communities.

He said: “The partnership between NDDC and the states would enable them to share information that will ensure that projects that are beneficial to the communities in Niger Delta are not duplicated by the three tiers of government, as duplication will more often than not lead to non- functionality of such projects.

“The partnership with NDDC is a welcome idea. We must all be committed to it because a lot of projects have been undertaken by the state governments with the support of NDDC and I believe that this partnership will positively impact on the communities to ensure peace and development in the region.”

Commending NDDC on already completed projects in the state, Okowa advised them to liaise with the state and local governments in locating projects in their areas to ensure that such projects become useful and beneficial to the people.

The governor commended the acting Managing Director for her tour and audit of NDDC projects, stressing that it would enable her know the challenges on ground and encourage contractors to deliver quality jobs.

Earlier in her remarks, Mrs. Semenitari said she was in the state to inspect and commission some projects and also to synergize with stakeholders in the development of the region.