Niger-Delta industrial roadmap under way – NEPAD

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

The Chief Executive Officer of New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD-Nigeria), Gloria Akobundu, has said that an industrial roadmap for the Niger-Delta region is under way.

Akodundu stated this in Asaba, Delta State capital, during the Niger Delta Agricultural and Industrial Development Initiative.

She noted that the intention of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was to devise a means to empower the youths of the region by bringing in funds through local and foreign investors.

According to her, foreign financial inflow will aim at “ailing industries, build more cottage ones, develop skills and transfer technology to the youth and women of the region.

She said: “We are in Delta State not only with investors, but financing and linking institutions like the Bank of Industry, Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Bank of Agriculture, Nigeria Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Investment Authority, NEPAD and the rest.

“Through these organisations, bankable projects would attract loans and sponsorship, which will in turn trickle down as measurable benefits to our people; especially, the youth whose restiveness will be curbed, if not wiped away completely,” she said.

While calling for more support for the activities and programmes of the Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative Team, Akobundu said it was high time Nigeria grew its own economy and create jobs through encouraging the manufacturing sector instead of the current over-dependence on imported goods and commodities