LAGOS JULY5TH (URHOBOTODAY) Minister of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs Elder Godsday Orubebe has reiterated his support to work for President Goodluck Jonathan to enable him deliver his transformational agenda as promised while assuming office two years ago.
Addressing selected newsmen recently while inspecting ongoing projects in Niger Delta Region, Orubebe affirmed that his immediate concern is to stand by President Goodluck Jonathan come rain or shine for him to deliver his transformational agenda to the people of Nigeria.
According to him, “I stand as one of the key supporters of Mr. President, one of the loyalists of Mr President to do what he wants so as to move Nigeria forward.”
In assisting Jonathan in achieving the transformational agenda in the area of youth empowerment, Orubebe who believes in the principle of teaching a man how to fish instead of giving him fish, said in line with Jonathan transformational agenda, he had engaged thousands of youths from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria by giving them a means of fulfilling their dreams through training and gainful employment.
He disclosed that his Ministry has trained no fewer than 1,000 non-militant youths culled from the nine states in Niger Delta Region, adding that they are trained in diverse fields of vocational training which include oil and gas, maritime, welding/fabrication and catering services among others.
In other to avoid the menace of project duplications by the Ministry, Federal, State government and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) thereby saving cost and avoiding wastage of useful resources in the Niger Delta Region, Elder Godsday came up with the idea of “Niger Delta Action Plan”.
According to him, “The Niger Delta “ACTION PLAN” is documented to fast track development in the Region. It’s an avenue that will avail all Development Partners the opportunity to input their quota in the development of the Region. At the Summit, we will all seize the opportunity to discuss our yesterday, today and tomorrow’s challenges, an opportunity that will involve all Stakeholders in decision making, project implementation and monitoring.”
The Minister said the East-West road project is at the verge of completion stressing that his Ministry have been able to complete 38 out of the 42 bridges on the East- West Road. He added that 736 out of the 786 culverts on the road have been completed remaining just sand filling and tarring. He promised that the project would be completed by December 2014 as promised by the Niger Delta Ministry.
‘In setting the record straight, the 18.5km Orhoror Junction-Odorubo-Kpakiama Road Project was awarded to Levant Construction Company by my Ministry in 2010 with a sole objective of linking up coastal communities in Bomadi and Burutu Local Council Areas of Delta State with a genuine intention of fostering development in the Riverine Areas.
Though the Project may have suffered neglect in recent times due to poor availability of funds and also little security constraints, however, we have employed a more holistic approach in realizing its early completion with a steady financial measure and plan put in place to ensure completion soon,” the Minister assured.