Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Christian Oboh has urged the American Government to play more active role in the security and stability of Niger Delta region.
Speaking when the American Consul-General, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins paid him a courtesy call, Dr. Oboh noted that the strategic economic importance of the region to Nigeria, U.S. and other parts of the world makes it necessary for stakeholders to ensure that the region was crisis free.
He said though the NDDC has a mandate to address the problem of under development in the region; the commission cannot achieve this in isolation without the collaboration and understanding of other stakeholders including the United States.
The NDDC Boss who identified difficult terrain, dearth of infrastructure and unemployment as some of the problems of the region called for closer collaboration between the U.S., Nigeria and by extension NDDC in the areas of funding, capacity building and youth development.
“We appeal to the American Consul-General to assist the NDDC in getting access to foreign donor funds to pursue more development projects in the Niger Delta’s” Dr. Oboh said.
Responding the American Consul General, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins described the Niger Delta as “an extremely important part of Nigeria and the source of a great deal of the nation’s wealth, which also harbours majority of U.S. investment”.
Hawkins said “Nigeria and U.S. have looked into the troubled areas of the country and have set up a bi-national commission to discuss issues of mutual interest, one of such areas is the Niger Delta problem” he said.
