WARRI/Nigeria: The Niger Delta Dialogue and Civil Society Organisations recently met in Warri to assess the 2018 budget as it affects the Edo-Delta area in the Ministry of Niger Delta, based on the Strategic Implementation Workplan (SIWP), based on the 16 Point Agenda of the Pan Niger Delta Forum’s, (PANDEF), from the 20 Point Agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The meeting is a two day to review the document prepared by the Niger Delta Dialogue, in a document with a title, PROMISES KEPT?: Assessing the 2018 Budget from the Respective of SIWP.
The event which is holding in Best Western Wetland Hotel, Udu, Delta State.
Speaking at the event, the Special Assistant to the Minister of Petroleum, on Niger Delta issues, Dr Charles Alhado, who praised the PANDEF for spearheading the development of the region and bringing peace. He enjoyed the various groups in the area to continue to preach peace.
However, speaking the spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum’s, Chief Sarah Igbe countered the position of the government that had been making promises from inception of this government, as he said the actions of the government had been that of deception.
The various speakers frowned at the body language of the government that is not showing any effort to keep to their promises.
However, the Co-convener of the Nkoyo Toyo, the effort of the NDD is to study the agreement reached with the people of the region, based the promises made to develop the area.
According to her, since the meeting with the government, many projects had been inserted into the budget in other to shore up the development of the Niger region, and the people need to be aware of such projects for them to follow it up.
The meeting which attracted CSO’s from Edo and Delta, had the majority leader of Edo state House of Assembly, and member representing Ughelli South Constituency Seat in the Delta State House of Assembly, in attendance.
