UAE, NDDC partner on N’Delta development projects

The United Arab Emirates and the Niger Delta Development Commission have agreed to set up a joint committee to develop a partnership framework to support development projects and programmes in the Niger Delta region.

This partnership follows a recent meeting at the UAE Embassy in Abuja between the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Al-Shamsi, and a delegation from the NDDC, led by its managing director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.

The NDDC team included the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Iyaye; the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Ifedayo Abegunde, among other directors of the commission, according to a statement by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama.

Al-Shamsi stated his willingness to collaborate with the commission on information and communication technology, education, health, agriculture, and youth development, endorsing the joint partnership to develop areas of collaboration between the UAE and NDDC.

The UAE envoy commended the NDDC for its development initiatives and said his country was willing to collaborate and support the Commission in executing more development projects.

Al-Shamsi said, “We are happy with this visit and the opportunity it has given us to explore areas of cooperation and support. We appreciate the robust relationship between UAE and Nigeria.”

He expressed satisfaction at his country’s normalising its relationship with Nigeria, noting the UAE national carrier, Emirates Airline, resumed operations between Lagos and Dubai.

The NDDC MD briefed Al-Shamsi and his team on the commission’s activities and achievements as he asked for collaboration in NDDC Health intervention in the Niger Delta.

He urged the UAE to assist in equipping the Commission’s Regional Specialist Cardiovascular and Orthopedic Hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Ogbuku said: “As part of our commitment to expanding the frontier of the NDDC’s Public Private Partnership, PPP, I welcome the opportunity to meet with UAE officials to foster collaboration in health, education, as well as oil and gas.”