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| Last Updated: Jan 19th, 2012 - 11:25:19 |
Speeches
Speech by President Yar’Adua at the inauguration of the NDDC board
Aug 6, 2009, 19:20
| | Address by His Excellency, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, GCFR, at the Inauguration of the NDDC Board, Abuja, August 6, 2009
PROTOCOL
It is with a clear sense of our Administration’s appreciation of the profundity of the challenge which the Niger Delta area represents that I inaugurate the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] Board this afternoon.
It is also instructive that this inauguration is coming today, August 6th 2009, the same date for the formal commencement of the amnesty programme, our bold initiative to frontally and decisively tackle the challenge of the Niger Delta question.
Right from inception, we have consistently identified as a major priority, the holistic resolution of the situation in the Niger Delta. This is with a view to entrenching enduring peace and stability, and securing the region for sustained development and economic growth.
The comprehensive amnesty programme which is clearly on course, coupled with the fact that the NDDC Board is being inaugurated barely forty eight hours after receipt of the notification of the Senate’s clearance of the nominees, is indicative of the seriousness with which our Administration views the Niger Delta situation. You will recall that we had not only made the resolution of the Niger Delta question a key component of our Seven Point Agenda, but had also taken the unprecedented step in creating a Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to further underscore our commitment.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, for us to make a success of this enterprise, all stakeholders must be transparently honest about the desire and the will to see this national challenge resolved. The issues at stake are of such magnitude that we cannot afford to subordinate them to political or parochial considerations. The encouraging responses from the militant leaders, and the reiteration by the State Governors of their total commitment to the successful prosecution of the amnesty programme, are positive signs that we are on course to a permanent solution.
With the inauguration of the NDDC Board today, it is expected that the Commission will fully integrate into the amnesty programme. Specifically, I do expect that serious efforts will be initiated to commence the operationalization of the NDDC Master Plan which, I am convinced, contains the requite ingredients for holistically addressing the challenges of the Niger Delta. The buy-in and unwavering commitment of all stakeholders – government, the private sector [especially those in the oil and gas sector], and civil society – are key elements to the successful actualization of our vision for the Niger Delta.
While congratulating the Chairman and members of the Board on their being called upon to serve the nation at a critical period, I must stress that now, more than ever before, they are expected to function with the highest possible levels of dedication, transparency and accountability in running the affairs of the NDDC. It is only by strict adherence to, and compliance with due process, the provisions of the NDDC Act, and all the relevant extant Federal Government rules and regulations that they can effectively and successfully prosecute this national assignment.
It is critical for the Board to build on the achievements of the previous NDDC Boards. The work of NDDC necessarily needs to be aligned with emerging realities in the region so as to neatly complement other interventions and initiatives. That way, we would be ensuring greater impact on human capacity, physical infrastructure, sustainable livelihood and lasting development in the Niger Delta. I assure you that the Federal Government is committed to providing all the support necessary to make a re-invigorated NDDC more efficient and more effective.
I must reiterate that we need trust, collaboration and commitment on all sides. The Federal Government is ready; other stakeholders and the people must be ready too. It is my hope that when the history of the transformation of the Niger Delta is written, the NDDC will be remembered in letters of gold.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, as I wish the Chairman and Members Almighty God’s guidance in the discharge of this onerous responsibility, it is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission to the glory of God and the enduring peace, progress and prosperity of our dear nation.
Thank you.
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