President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the significance of the Niger Delta region to Nigeria’s economic prosperity, describing it as “the goose that lays the golden egg.”

This is even as he tasked the Niger Delta Development Commission to fast track the completion of abandoned projects that are critical to the development of the region.

Tinubu stated this at the plenary session of the 25th anniversary of the NDDC held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Saturday.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President said his administration’s legacy project, the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, will serve as a viable alternative to the East-West Road.

Tinubu said the flagship infrastructure project ‘will foster trade and connectivity across the region while opening up new investment prospects in the hydrocarbon belt and spurring the growth of eco-tourism and blue economy-based industries in the region’.

He stated, “I have also directed the board and management of the commission, through the Minister of Regional Development, to complete and deliver abandoned critical projects, including the Kaa-Ataba Bridge, Okrika-Borokiri Bridge, Bonny Ring Road, Gbaregolo Roads and Bridges, and the East-West Sampou Roads and Bridges, among several others.”

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Tinubu commended the NDDC leadership for its efforts to improve the commission’s service delivery and encouraged it to sustain the momentum and continue working towards enhancing the region’s development.

He added, “Beyond infrastructural development, the NDDC must continue to prioritise human capital development, as it remains the primary index of progress.

“Projects and programmes that directly impact the lives of ordinary people in rural communities must be prioritised. In this regard, I commend the Board and Management for the ‘Light Up the Niger Delta’ initiative, which has not only reduced night crimes and enhanced security but has also extended trading hours and improved social life across the region.

“I also urge you to place special emphasis on empowering the youth and women of the region.

“The NDDC must constructively engage the youth, steering them away from violence and militancy towards entrepreneurship and other legitimate means of self-development.

“This administration prioritises youth development, and I encourage the NDDC to collaborate with the Ministry of Youth Development to leverage the various initiatives available.”

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He continued, “Furthermore, there can be no sustainable development without peace, security of lives and property, and adherence to the rule of law. The NDDC must continue to work towards sustaining peace in the region.”

The President emphasised the importance of agriculture in the Niger Delta, noting the region’s vast potential beyond oil and gas. He encouraged the NDDC to invest in agricultural initiatives that would unlock and maximise the region’s agrarian resources for the benefit of both the region and the country.

While congratulating the commission on the silver anniversary, he called on the people of the Niger Delta to continue to support his administration’s programmes and policies.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan called on the NDDC to prioritise long-term, people-focused infrastructure over politically motivated short-term projects, saying frequent leadership changes have stunted the commission’s impact.

“In just 25 years, the NDDC has had over 11 CEOs. I thank the President for retaining the current CEO.

“Let the next 25 years be defined by legacy projects, not just visions and promises. Resist the temptation to award projects without proper funding, ” Jonathan stated.

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Rechoing Jonathan’s concerns, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, blamed leadership crises and internal corruption for the NDDC’s historical underperformance.

Akpabio said, “For over 20 years, th3 NDDC operated from a rented apartment at N300 million per year, without connection to the national grid.

“Yet, diesel contracts were preferred over a one-time N70 million grid connection.”

He lauded the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, as the right leader to reposition the commission, saying, “We have found in Dr. Ogbuku a man worthy to take NDDC to the next level.”

On her part, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, urged the NDDC to deliver measurable results.

She stated, “Over N7 trillion has been sunk into the NDDC since inception. How many solid roads have you built? The Niger Delta still ranks low on human development. A lot needs to be done to meet the aspirations of the people.”

The NDDC Managing Director, Ogbuku, assured stakeholders of a new era of impact driven by partnerships.

“We don’t want to be defined by our past. We’ve decided to create a future for the Niger Delta through partnerships with IOCs, traditional rulers, and stakeholders,” he said.
(PUNCH)