NDDC urges stakeholders’ investments in Niger Delta

In a bid to advance the transformation of the Niger Delta Region, Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has called on stakeholders and private sector players to attract investments to the Region.

Ogbuku, who made the call at the Niger Delta Business Roundtable, pointed out that sustainable development could only be achieved through collective commitment and strategic partnerships.

The event was organised on Thursday by the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) in Port Harcourt.

Ogbuku said the NDDC leadership is determined to change the narrative by transitioning from transactional engagements to transformational development.

He said, “When we assumed office, there were numerous unfinished projects, but we have taken deliberate steps to complete them. We are encouraged by the assurance of Mr President of a stable four-year tenure, which places a moral responsibility on us to deliver results”.

Ogbuku stressed the need for regional unity to address its shared challenges, particularly insecurity, which has driven urban migration and slowed down economic growth.

He said the need to address power supply challenges and curbing criminality informed the commission’s “Operation Light Up the Niger Delta” initiative.

Ogbuku listed key NDDC interventions including the Okitipupa electrification project in Ondo State; the Ogbia-Nembe road, Okrika road, Kaa–Ataba road, Bonny ring road and regional hospitals in Rivers and Cross River States.

He also disclosed an ongoing collaboration with the Delta State Government on the 70.75-kilometre Omadino-Okerenkoko-Escravos road and project and some of NDDC efforts to transform the region.

Ogbuku said that NDDC had intensified its human capital development programmes, including the training of 500 youths in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion and creation of a database to match beneficiaries with future opportunities based on competence.

He acknowledged that past challenges, including frequent leadership changes, contributed to abandoned projects and to the erosion of public confidence in the Commission.

The managing director, however, assured stakeholders that the stability under the current administration would restore trust and improve performance.

He revealed that the establishment of the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture was intended to insulate NDDC from political pressures while supporting businesses in the region.

He called on the private sector to take a leading role in investing in the region saying: “The government provides infrastructure, but it is the private sector that drives business growth. The Niger Delta is peaceful and offers a viable platform for investments”.

Boma Iyaye, NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, commended NDCCITMA for organising the Niger Delta Business Roundtable and appreciated the efforts of beneficiaries who had repaid their loans.

Earlier, Idaere Gogo Ogan, Chairman of the NDCCITMA Board, said they had received about 13,000 loan applications and over 3,000 businesses had benefited from the scheme while many of them had started repaying their loans.

Ogan urged participants to harness the region’s vast economic opportunities and contribute innovative ideas for prosperity.

In his remarks, Solomon Edebiri, the Secretary of the Board, traced the evolution of the Chamber, noting that it had begun making significant impacts within a short period.

Edebiri highlighted the region’s strengths in agriculture and the blue economy, and stressed the need to diversify the economy beyond oil and gas.

He pointed out the sharp disparity in export capacity between Lagos and Port Harcourt, noting that while Lagos accounts for about $200 million in exports, Port Harcourt records significantly lower figures.

Edebiri said the roundtable was designed to unlock business opportunities and address economic challenges in the Region.

Delivering the keynote address, Simbi Kesiye Wabote, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), emphasised the need for a new development agenda driven by strategic planning and regional collaboration.

Wabote observed that although the Niger Delta Region contributes about 80% of Nigeria’s earnings, the level of infrastructure and per capita income does not reflect the contribution.

He called for the implementation of a regional master plan to drive future development as past development efforts were largely influenced by politics rather than sustainability.

Wabote advised stakeholders to build strong business institutions, set measurable targets, and foster synergy among the Niger Delta states to achieve long-term economic growth.