The ongoing Technical/Stakeholders Engagement meeting being undertaken by the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources Dr. Emmanuel I. Kachikwu in conjunction with the Inter-Ministerial Working Group for the Niger Delta held the 3rd instalment of its engagement meeting today 22nd November, 2017 in Delta State, having concluded similar engagements in Edo and Imo States respectively.
The technical/stakeholders meeting was hosted by the Executive Governor of Delta State , Nigeria His Excellency, Senator Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa. The Federal Government’s delegation was led by the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, representative from the office of Vice President, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs among other members of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group respectively.
The focus of these engagements is in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s new vision for the Niger Delta Region (#NDNewVision) and also follows with the 5th component of the #7BigWins Initiative of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources focused on Niger Delta and Security.
The far reaching objectives of the Technical and Stakeholders Engagements as is the case with the states that had earlier been visited by the team are as follows:
1. To inform and explain key policy initiatives of the Government to the States in the Niger Delta (i.e. Modular refinery, gas flare commercialisation, and Strategic Implementation Work Plan).
2. To explore partnership with the States on implementation of these specific policy initiatives.
3. To constitute an implementation framework comprising a Steering Committee led by the State Governor and a Technical Committee with membership drawn from all relevant agencies.
4. To articulate a communique of issues identified and agreed during during this engagement process.
5. And formalize this through a partnership MOU for implementation of the policy areas discussed with the States.
6. To understand key drivers of militancy and youth restiveness in the States.
7. To identify business and investment opportunities that have considerable impact for the Oil and Gas sector.
