Stakeholders in the oil and gas industry have asked the government to set up industries in the Niger Delta region for a sustainable development of the area.
In addition, they sought the use of best brains to manage the nation’s energy corridor so as to ensure sustained development of the country’s economy
They spoke at the second edition of Nigeria and Entrepreneurship Summit and Honors (NESH) Oil and Gas roundtable in Port Harcourt, Rivers State themed: “Nigerian Oil and Gas sector and sustainable development of the Niger Delta”.
They argued that the region is the backbone of the economy warning that failure to accord the region such status by government, will not favour the nation’s economy.
Founder of NESH, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, said it was incumbent on the private sector to step up and adopt strategies that would accelerate development in the Niger Delta, noting that the region “‘remains the goose that lays golden egg”.
Ugwu-Oju emphasized that, in Niger Delta, “Infrastructure, jobs, a clean environment, access to healthcare facilities, and others, should not only be guaranteed, but seen to be in place”.
He noted lack of political will to institute the right policy environment that will encourage local and foreign private sector investment, as being responsible for the country’s stunted development.
“No country is ever able to develop in a climate of over-regulation and bad governance. In the case of Nigeria, our experience shows that government is a bad manager of business. At the end of the day, the private sector remains the main driver sustainable development.
“All that is required is the political will to institute the policy environment to drive the process that will provide the enabling environment for massive private investment to thrive.
“Unless the right policy or institution is also supported with a governance environment that elevates the social above the individual, integrity over can’t and ensuring values over the ephemeral, the country will continue to run on the same spot”, Ugwu-Oju cautioned.
In his goodwill message, the Managing Director, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Tony Attah, described as timely, the theme of the event, as it affects Niger Delta region.
Attah, who was represented by Temilola Okesanjo, said NLNG was committed to the sustainability of development in the region, adding that the company had entered into a tripartite agreement with Federal Government on the construction of Bonny-Bodo Road.
He disclosed that NLNG has provided 50 percent counterpart fund for the project, saying that the road when completed, would improve the economy of the region, assuring that the firm will continue to provide its quota in the development of Niger Delta region.
In his presentation, the Managing Director of Weltek Limited, Mr. Pedro Egbe, said the nation’s energy corridor was designed to build clusters in Niger Delta region, to attract sustainable development.
Egbe, who spoke on the topic, “Niger Delta Energy Corridor” , noted that the oil extracted from the region and used to develop the nation, does not create industrialization, adding that the energy corridor concept should be given serious attention.
Among the participants at the roundtable were representative of South East /South-South Professionals, Notore/Midwestern/Oil and Gas/Erotom and Enyimba Economic Community.
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