Former Minister of Petroleum, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia says there is need for strong laws and political will for enforcement to bring to reality sustainable Development of Niger Delta region.
Mr. Ajumogobia who was the keynote speaker at Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC Law and Development Summit, Twenty Twenty Six, in Port Harcourt Rivers State, emphasized the need for laws on oil exploration to include rapid development of host communities.
With the theme, the Role of Law in Driving Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta Region, the summit put up by NDDC brought together Judges and other legal luminaries deliberate and come up with new legal frameworks that will facilitate the development of the oil rich region.
In a keynote address former Minister of petroleum, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia who observed that NDDC was an act of law stated that it was necessary to have laws that would make the commission fulfill her mandate.
Mr. Ajumogobia who defined law as a transformative tool for justice that would promote equity and fairness, regretted environmental issues in the Niger Delta region without a strong legal framework to tackle the challenges.
Mr. Ajumogobia who was also a former Minister of Foreign Affairs called for political will for implementation of laws that would facilitate development in the oil rich region.
He applauded the present leadership of NDDC for efforts in development, suggesting legal frameworks that would assist the commission to fulfill her mandate.
The former Petroleum minister suggested that host communities should have revenue sharing rights.
Similarly, Chairman, NDDC board,
Mr. Ebie who stated that the board has come up with policies that brought direction to the activities of the commission called for recalibration of laws that would enhance development of Niger Delta Region.
Mr. Ebie challenged participants to come up with legal ideas that would assist the commission achieve rapid development of Niger Delta.
“I come to this Summit not merely as a host, but as an eager student. The insights generated here will directly inform how the current Board and Management continue to transform the Commission’s operations. More than that, they will leave a lasting legacy and a template for future administrations to build upon.”
“I am keenly aware that the measure of our stewardship of this Commission will not be judged by the meetings we held, but by the lives we changed. The people of the Niger Delta have waited long enough. This Summit is our commitment, to them, and to the generations yet unborn, that we are equal to the task.”
In the same vein, Managing Director NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku who stressed the need to come up with laws that would enhance development of Niger Delta region told the people that the commission has strengthened her internal governance framework to facilitate service delivery.
Dr. Ogbuku said that the commission would be fully automated after the staff have been trained on the process.
On project delivery, the Managing Director stated that Kaa Ataba Bridge, ranking among the longest bridges in the country would soon be completed, while other projects would be inaugurated.
“Sustainable development for the Niger Delta region is not just about infrastructure, brick and mortar but entails a balanced integration of economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection for the long term well-being of the region. Within the matrix of our complex historical and socio-cultural experience in the region, delivering sustainable development comes with enormous challenges.”
“In keeping faith with the statutory mandate of the Commission, this current Board and Management, since our assumption of duty, has in its determination to make a real difference in the lives of our people, made very deliberate, conscious and intentional efforts at repositioning the Commission from Transactions to Transformation.”
In a remark, President Nigeria Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe called for obedience to the rule of law, saying that necessary laws regarding NDDC would promote development.
Earlier on, Director Legal Services NDDC, Victor Arenyeka explained that the summit was in keeping with the commission’s determination to promote rule of law in her activities.
Mr. Arenyeka stated that the legal practitioners were gathered to discover ways law could facilitate the development of the region.
He noted that there was need for a frame of law to sustain the developmental strides of the commission.
According to him, development was difficult in an environment where rule of law was relegated to the background.
The Director Legal NDDC observed that the constitution of Nigeria has mapped out laws that would enhance infrastructural development, environmental protection and economic growth.
By; Gabriel Okechukwu, Port Harcourt.
