The Federal Government through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has launched the Strategic Implementation Work Plan (SIWP) equipped for the development of the Niger Delta.
During the launch, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, said the government identified the SIWP as a critical measure to trigger the anticipated development needed in the Niger Delta region.
Akpabio said on resumption of office in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, part of his commitment to push for uncommon development in the region was to critically review previous policies and efforts geared towards the development of the area.
He noted that the move was to conduct the government’s interventions and take the best policy options to achieve optimal results for peace and prosperity in the region.
“As you are aware, the SIWP is not a new initiative in the Niger Delta region. It emerged as a result of concerted and several high level political engagements by the Federal Government with key stakeholders of the region in 2016.
“It is a collaborative framework designed to coordinate all development interventions of both government agencies and private organisations operating in the Niger Delta Region,” Akpabio explained.
The minister stated that the SIWP would end project duplication and multiplication by government agencies in the Niger Delta region, noting that there were enormous benefits of the SIWP fr the Niger Delta.
He explained that the SIWP was expected to become more visible and effective when projects and programmes of other critical stakeholders in the region are uploaded, and all individual efforts can be tracked using the e-portal.
Akpabio also said to reap the benefits of the SIWP, there was a need to properly coordinate the developmental and implementation processes to deliver on planned outcomes effectively.
“To this end, I am delighted to inform you that an inter-ministerial technical committee has been constituted and will be inaugurated today by the Ministry,” he disclosed.
Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Babayo Ardo, said the Ministry is committed to implementing initiatives geared towards the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta while noting that the SIWP was one of such instruments that will assist in achieving the dream of the government for the region.
