The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced its intention to forge a partnership with the relevant stakeholders to maximize the economic potential of Escravos by making the area easily accessible by road.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Olu of Warri, Ogiamen Atuwatse III, in his palace, the NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said that the NDDC was specifically targeting Escravos as a key area for economic development.
“The NDDC has identified Escravos as an area of special economic priority and is taking steps to make it more accessible by rallying the support of well-meaning stakeholders for a broad partnership that will expedite the construction and completion of the Warri/Omadino – Escravos Road constructing a road network within the community.”
He added that the NDDC was actively seeking the assistance of Chevron Nigeria Limited, private companies and other relevant authorities towards the successful completion of the project.
He said: “One major project that is dear to NDDC, which can make Warri Kingdom come back to life is a road connecting Warri to Escravos. Escravos is the hub of oil and gas in Delta State and connecting Warri to Escravos will make economic activities boom in Warri kingdom.
“Through our PPP, we are willing to partner with Chevron Nigeria Limited and Delta State Government in achieving this feat which is capable of making commercial activities in Warri to boom,” said Dr. Ogbuku.
The NDDC Managing Director, who was accompanied by the Executive Director, Projects, Mr Charles Ogunmola and some Directors of the Commission, told the monarch, “We are here to assure you that the NDDC is willing to complete the two major projects (Warri/Omadino – Escravos Road and Koko – Oghoye Road) that will make economic activities boom in Warri Kingdom. We are begging for your support to help us reach Chevron Nigeria Limited and other stakeholders. Please bring all of us together to see how we can partner for Warri Kingdom to regain its lost glory.”
The move is part of the NDDC’s larger plan to generate economic opportunities in the Niger Delta region by improving access to resources and boosting investment opportunities. It is expected that the successful completion of such projects will spur growth, create jobs and improve living standards for the people living in Escravos and the rest of the Niger Delta.
Responding, the Olu of Warri said: “The Chinese have a saying, ‘If you want to end poverty, build a road’, and this has been proven true in many developed countries because roads have a natural way of attracting development.
“Today, what you have described is a road that will connect a township to a place you described as ‘the hub of oil and gas activities (Escravos).”
“I assure you that anything that concerns development in the Niger Delta region, I am your number one advocate and a huge support of NDDC. We will do all that we can to ensure that these projects (the Omadino-Escravos Road Phase I and the Koko – Oghoye Road) that you are proposing receive the necessary support from Delta State Government and all the international oil companies that operate in this kingdom