Tinubu Moves to Rescue Long-Neglected Niger Delta
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his resolve to reposition the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as a true vehicle for regional transformation, vowing that his administration will give the agency the full support it needs to deliver results. He made this known at the 25th anniversary celebration of the NDDC, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where a high-powered gathering of political leaders, stakeholders, and global dignitaries converged to reflect on the commission’s journey and chart a path forward.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, President Tinubu issued a strong directive to the Ministry of the Niger Delta and the Ministry of Regional Development to ensure the immediate completion of all critical and abandoned projects in the region. He emphasised that under his Renewed Hope Agenda, the NDDC must be repositioned to achieve measurable, people-focused development, especially in the areas of infrastructure, security, agriculture, education, and job creation.
Among the dignitaries in attendance was the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who delivered a no-holds-barred keynote address. She acknowledged the over ₦7 trillion disbursed to the commission since its establishment but questioned the impact, stressing the need for transparency, results-driven policies, and practical, scalable solutions. She urged the NDDC to shift from rhetoric to visible and sustainable outcomes that directly touch the lives of ordinary citizens in the Niger Delta.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who was also present, called for continuity in leadership and a stable administrative structure at the commission. He warned that constant changes at the helm had disrupted progress and hindered long-term planning. Jonathan stressed that the NDDC must go beyond oil and begin to explore the agricultural and technological potential of the region.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, a former Minister of the Niger Delta, reminded the audience that the legislative groundwork for the NDDC was laid by the National Assembly. He commended President Tinubu for showing political will to reset the agency and called on all stakeholders to rally behind the commission’s renewed focus on grassroots empowerment and regional integration.
The Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, and the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, both restated the commission’s commitment to driving impactful projects. Ogbuku highlighted new strategies being deployed, including power infrastructure, youth training, environmental protection, and economic revitalisation across member states.
The event was not only a celebration of the NDDC’s 25-year journey but a critical moment of reckoning. It served as a platform for robust engagement and policy redirection, with stakeholders expressing cautious optimism that, under Tinubu’s watch, the agency might finally deliver on the long-awaited promise of sustainable development in the Niger Delta.