By Ebi Dressman
The Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan (NDRDMP) was developed shortly after the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2000.
It was estimated to cost about $50 billion, over a 15-year period.
But, nearly 21 years down the line, the commission has not been able to successfully implement and execute this master plan.
The commission was created in 2000, by the then Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration to replace the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC).
NDDC is saddled with the responsibility of developing the region in the areas of infrastructure, human capital development, policy formulation and guidelines for the development of the entire Niger Delta region.
The commission was also mandated to survey the Niger Delta region in order to ascertain clear measures, necessary to promote the physical and socio-economic development of the region.
It was also mandated to prepare the master plan with a clear directive to promote the physical development of the region.
The commission is also mandated to tackle the ecological and environmental problems that emerge from the exploration activities of oil companies in the region.
The content of the master plan is anchored on four major pillars viz:
1. Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (DDRR).
2. Infrastructure and economic development.
3. Environmental protection.
4. Involvement of host communities in the protection of assets and their inclusion in the sharing of oil proceeds.
While the first pillar, DDRR, can be said to have successfully executed up to 70%, not much can be said of the other three pillars since then.
When the commission was established, it gave hope to the people of the Niger Delta.
With a mandate to speed up the development of the region, the commission was also responsible for the emancipation of the region from environmental hazards, occasioned by the activities of oil multinationals.
This is the region that contributes 70% of the revenue made by the government and 90% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings, but it still suffers from developmental neglect.
According to BudgIT Nigeria, the commission has received over N15 trillion for projects in the region, yet it has failed to achieve the NDRDMP master plan, which is the roadmap for the development of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
Sadly, after so many years, this master plan, which costs billions of Naira just for the design alone is still lying fallow at the commission.
Even those saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the affairs of the commission are feasting on the funds meant for the implementation and execution of this master plan.
