Belgium pledges development partnership with Rivers Govt, NDDC

PORT HARCOURT – THE Government of Belgium has pledged to offer strategic partnership for mutual development with the Government of Rivers state, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in diverse sectors across Rivers, and the Niger Delta.

In separate meetings in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Daniel Bertrand acknowledged NDDC’s request for Belgium’s support in development of critical infrastructure in the Niger Delta, and presented Rivers government intent to expand Belgian investments in various sectors in the state.

Following a closed door meeting with Governor Nyesom Wike at Government House, Port Harcourt, the Belgian diplomat, in his first visit to Rivers, disclosed, “I am here to visit the State, and visit Belgium companies existing in this area.

“There are already some Belgium companies existing in Nigeria, with facilities in Rivers State. So we have some opportunities to have our facilities in gas, and agriculture.”

On the visit to the NDDC head-office in the Rivers capital city, Sole Administrator of the commission, Efiong Akwa, had told Bertrand, “We want collaboration in health, environment, training, agriculture, and developing a new Master Plan.

“Health is a major challenge in the Niger Delta, and Belgium has what it takes to assist us, considering the way it was able to successfully tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Our environment has been put in jeopardy because of oil, and gas exploration, and exploitation of multinational companies in the region. Our people are predominantly fishermen and farmers, and agriculture is the strength of the region.”

The Belgian envoy had told Akwa, “I am looking forward to working together with the NDDC to deepen our excellent relationship. I wanted to see you to understand what you are doing, your priorities, and see what we can do together.”