NDDC renews commitment to $129m agric project in N/Delta
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has renewed its commitment to transforming the rural economy of the Niger Delta region and improving the livelihood of the citizens.
Speaking at the $129.17 million project facilitation training in Port Harcourt yesterday, the NDDC acting Managing Director, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, said that the commission is committed to its partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
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Prof. Pondei, who was represented by the NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, George Ero, said that the training was planned with a financing gap of six years, adding that it has a first phase of six years with parallel finance of $30 million from the NDDC and an additional six years to be financed in the future by other partners and additional IFAD loan.
According to the acting managing director, the NDDC would at all times support activities that benefit the citizens of the region, noting that the goal of the project is to transform the rural economy in the Niger Delta.
He said: “The project directly supports the federal government’s agricultural policy and the strategic framework for youth employment and job creation. This strategic framework addresses the large and growing number of restless unemployed youths, especially in rural areas. It seeks inclusion of young people in profitable agribusiness.
“LIFE-ND is designed to be implemented in the nine Niger Delta states, commencing with 10 local government areas and 10 communities per local government area with an option of expansion over time.”
The NDDC boss noted that IFAD has a global mandate of eradicating poverty through agricultural interventions targeted at rural communities, stating that “the federal government/NDDC/IFAD partnership is a novel one designed to improve the living standards of the rural populace. This in turn is expected to reduce rural-urban migration and criminal activities.”
Prof. Pondei reiterated the commitment of the NDDC to continuously partner with development organisations like the IFAD in bringing the best to the people of the oil-rich region.
National Project Coordinator for LIFE-ND programme, Sanni Fatai, emphasized that the project would enhance the income, food security and job creation for rural youths and women through agricultural enterprise development on a sustainable basis in the Niger Delta.
