The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Nsima Ekere has declared the preparedness of the interventionist agency to collaborate with the government of the Federal Republic of Germany in setting up an enduring and functional world class cancer center in the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stated this while receiving the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Bernhard Schlagheck, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. With him to receive the German envoy were the NDDC Executive Director Finance and Administration, Mr Mene Derek, and Executive Director Projects, Engr. (Dr) Samuel Adjogbe.
Mr. Ekere called for both financial and technical assistance to make the Cancer Center a reality. He lamented that oil and gas exploration and exploitation in the Niger Delta had negatively affected the environment caused serious health problems, including an increase in the number of cancer cases in the region compared to other parts of the country.
He said: “Germany has a long history of relationship with Nigeria and one area where the German government will be more helpful to Nigeria is in the area of health, because we have healthcare challenges that we believe collaboration with the Germans can help us.”
Mr. Ekere thanked the German government for its renewed interest in the Niger Delta region, noting that there had been a lot of engagement from the international community in recent times. “This interest in the affairs of the Niger Delta region and the Federal Republic of Nigeria will only add value to our effort to see our region as a peaceful, stable and secure area,” he said.
The NDDC boss commended the contributions of German firms in the production of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, which was launched in 2007. According to him, “the process that led to the Master Plan was assisted and facilitated by German collaboration.”
He added: “We are in the process of reviewing the Master Plan and we recognize that you did a very good job in producing the plan. Because you did so well in helping us with the master plan, we also have to appeal to you once more to assist us in the review of the plan.”
He told the ambassador that the NDDC had entered into a partnership with the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, to set up a N5 billion development fund, where both parties would contribute N2.5 billion each, with a view to accelerating SMEs and agricultural development in the Niger Delta.
