ASOPADEC to leverage partnership for Niger Delta devt — Chairman
The Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC), says it will continue to work closely with relevant local and international organisations, to expand the economic frontiers in the Niger Delta.
The Chairman of ASOPADEC, Mr Samuel Nwogu, said this in Umuahia, on Saturday, while receiving the Planning and Organising Committee (POC) of the National Symposium on Niger Delta Infrastructure Development and Promotion of non-oil sector forum.
The forum, designed to promote the economic blue print of the Niger Delta, is scheduled to hold from Aug. 10 to 13, in the state.
“The symposium is something that will consider Abia as unique, because it is in line with the economic potential we have in our environment.
“We are determined to partner with you on ways that can fast track economic diversification, we have seen what oil is doing and dependency solely on crude oil is a problem.
“So, if there is any way you want us to come in, we are determined to partner with you, especially on agriculture, trade and other sectors, that can help our people in the oil producing communities to see other ways of life other than oil.
“For us in the Commission, we are struggling hard to see what we can do to uplift Abia people. We travel far and wide looking for partners abroad and the result we get is not good enough, therefore, we need to work closely with you to expand our economic frontiers.”
Speaking earlier, Mr Moses Owharo, Chairman and CEO of Africa Business Ventures and Investment Group (ABVIG), said that the symposium was aimed at promoting the economic blue print of the Niger Delta.
Owharo, also the Chairman of the POC, said that the choice of Abia was borne out of the economic potentials that abound in the state.
“The symposium is designed to proffer solutions by meeting perceived challenges that surrounds development of economic potentials of the region.
“We will focus on areas of recovery from COVID-19, infrastructure, trade, investments, peace and security, as well as export and import chains, ecological zones and the non-oil sector,” Owharo said.
