Niger Delta Stakeholders Set Agenda for Operational Reforms in Oil Producing Areas Commissions.
Stakeholders in the Niger Delta have set agenda for the review of the operations of Oil and Gas Development Commissions in the Niger Delta with a view to strengthening their operations and scale up development in oil and gas bearing communities.
Group photograph of stakeholders at the meeting.
The stakeholders comprising Civil Society Organisations CSOs, oil and gas host communities, journalists, officials of oil and gas development commissions in the Niger made the resolution at a one day public event to present an assessment report on the operations of Oil and Gas Commissions in the Niger Delta by Africa Network for Economic and Environment Justice (ANEEJ).
They also called review of the enabling laws establishing the commissions where necessary.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor said ANEEJ invited stakeholders in the region to validate the assessment of the operations of oil and gas commissions in the the Niger Delta which is under the Africa Network for Economic and Environment Justice and Strengthening Civic Advocacy Engagement ANEEJ-SCALE project on ” Enhancing Anti-corruption and Social Reform Initiatives in Nigeria being implemented by Palladium and its resource partners and funded by the by USAID.
According to Ugolor, the project seeks to promote and engage in anti-corruption reforms and address reforms issues within the development commissions set up to develop the Niger Delta region.
“We consider this project as an important one that seeks to promote and engage in anti-corruption policy reforms at both the national and sub-national levels with an ultimate goal of strengthening governance to deliver development goals to citizens, particularly in addressing poverty and inequality amongst our people.
“The project is also designed to address reforms issues within the development commissions set up to develop the Niger Delta region such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the oil and gas producing areas development commissions in Abia, Delta, Edo, Imo and Ondo. This explains why we are gathered here today.
While stating that the intention of the validation of the review work is to get the feedback of stakeholders to ensure that the final report reflects the true position of things, Rev. Ugolor thanked USAID through Palladium for providing the Anti-corruption Cluster the grant to undertake the project at this critical time.
Invitation to the meeting was extended to the five oil and gas development commissions in the Niger Delta, their supervisory ministries, representatives of States Houses of Assembly, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), host communities and journalists across all the states in the Niger Delta.
