Former President Goodluck Jonathan Gas recently shared a framework for forward motion within the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which is to digest from oil-based investments to agriculture and production-based investments, while carping at fossil fuel and its place in the World moving forward.
Jonathan, who spoke at the just concluded Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit, also called for a human capital development scheme to make Niger Deltans fit into work plans and jobs anywhere in the world.
The ex-leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria also demanded that the NDDC look into abandoned projects like roads that they constructed, saying they either hand them over through the proper channels to states to maintain them or retain the roads for maintenance.
He said poor roads done by the commission were giving the Niger Delta Development Commission a terrible image, urging stakeholders to find a way to achieve industrialization as a means beyond oil to support the local economy.
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He beckoned on the commission to support local farmers with capital, admitting agricultural loans were difficult to track. Still, he encouraged management to find a way to ensure capital gets into the right hands to encourage needed growth in the region.
Notably, he also suggested that the industrial loans be managed by the Bank of Industry instead of the Oil Mineral Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) owing to the terrible track record of the latter body.
The former president also decried the excesses of the political class in encumbering the commission and appealed to the Senate President who was representing the curry President, to help foster a new relationship between the commission and politicians.
He lastly reminded those present that the NDDC came as a child of necessity and, applauded the present management for restoring the confidence and vision needed to drive the southern region.
