Rivers State All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the allocation of over one Hundred and twenty five billion Naira (N125b) out of the N8.612 trillion appropriation bill by President Muhammadu Buhari to fund capital projects in 2018 in the Niger Delta region as unprecedented.
APC said the move is a total demonstration of the unalloyed desire of President Buhari to right the wrongs the region suffered in the hands of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) particularly during the regime of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
The party in a press statement circulated on Monday by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze the SSA Media and Public Affairs Consultant to the APC Rivers State Chairman, Dr Ibiamu Davies Ikanya further hailed President Buhari on the formal take off of the Maritime University Maritime in Delta.
Continuing, the party said, “apart from the N53.89 billion earmarked for Niger Delta Ministry and N71.2 billion for Niger Delta Development Commission for capital projects, the region is also to benefit from the budgetary allocation for the Niger Delta amnesty programme retained at N65 billion with the budgetary allocation of N17.32 billion earmarked for the completion of the East-West Road.”
Rivers APC also noted with joy the inclusion of N5bn in the 2018 budget for the formal take off of the Maritime University located at Okerenkoko in Delta State which once again affirms the unflinching commitment of the APC led Federal Government under the leadership of President Buhari to develop the Niger Delta region. The party commended the President for his directive for the immediate release of N1b to the university to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment separate from the N5B take off grant.
With commencement of full academic activities of this university that will go a long way to assist in the development and emancipation of our region, the party said while also urging the youths to reciprocate this kind gesture by maintaining the peace and avoid playing into the hands of enemies of the region.
The APC explained that the region will also benefit from the huge allocations of N555.88 billion, for the ministry of power, works and housing and that of the ministry of Transportation with N263.1 billion plus other ministries as the 2018 budget estimates also contains the extension of Rail line to Warri in Delta State and the completion of the Uyo-Calabar Express Road.
The party expressed its profound joy for the inclusion and full implementation the Ogoni clean-up exercise and the execution of the Multi-Billion Naira Bomu-Bonny road project which when completed would open up the economic potentials of the Niger Delta Region beyond the shores of Nigeria. These projects will surely open not only the Niger Delta region but attract the elusive investments to the region. Based on this revolutionary trend by President Buhari who has proved that he is a true son of the region; the party after due thought and deliberation on the 2018 budget estimates rechristened the budget the budget of hope, peace, emancipation and unity of Niger Delta region,APC said.
