Ruth Oginyi

Vice President of Nigeria professor Yemi Osibanjo on Friday said that the establishment of council on development planning has remained a very important platform for setting the tone of national development.

He spoke when he attended the 21st edition of the joint planning board (JPB)/ national council on development planning (NCDP) meetings in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Southeast Nigeria.

According to prof Osibanjo, it provides an opportunity for federal and state governments to fathom an active collaboration for the well-being of the people.

He decried poor synergy between the implementing actors in promoting food security.

“The need for synergy among all tiers of government at this critical time, especially as we continue to face the challenges of the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is now compounded by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has already led to price and supply shock, especially in food security. We must brace ourselves to collectively respond to the inevitable economic challenge that will occur and some which are already occurring.

“Let me take this opportunity to compliment the council, federal ministry of finance, budget and national planning, federal and state MDAs and all stakeholders, and indeed the private sector and the civil society for the sterling work that has been done in the articulation of a national development plan 2021-2025.

“The strategic objective of the national development plan includes establishing a strong foundation for a diversified economy, investing in infrastructure, improving government, and stamping out insecurity. All of which would contribute to achieving our national development aspirations.

“The content of the plan is as important as the process that which it was developed. And I find the extensive deliberations and contributions to fashion a medium-term blueprint. But the implementation of the plan is the crux of the matter and this speaks of the relevance to the theme of the meeting “Good Governance and Institutional Capacity: Pathways to Sustainable National Development”

“The question I am sure some of us asked ourselves is why countries with huge natural and human resources still developed slowly and have a greater number of poverty than other less endowed societies or countries without resources at all like South Korea and Singapore. Why do they still perform better than the resourceful country of the world?.

“I think most of the surveys conducted show that there is a lack of good governance and weak institutional capacity that largely account for the difference”. He said.

The chairman southeast governors forum and Governor of Ebonyi state Engr David Umahi received the Vice President on his arrival at the Ebonyi State International Airport, Onueke Ezza south.

The joint planning board (JPB) in a communique called for adequate information and data for effective implementation of the operation feed yourself intervention for the sustainability of the program.

JPB encouraged state governments to key into GAIN programs to boost agricultural production to ensure food security.

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