Lack of commitment hampering Niger Delta dev,t – NDDC MD

2026-03-20 - 13:53

...as Chamber rapid growth, development of region By Davies Iheamnachor PORT HARCOURT: The Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, Ph.D, has stated that the oil rich region does not lack the capital or manpowr to develop the area, but that what is lacking is commitment. This was as the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade and Agriculture, NDCCITMA, has called for a strategic shift in the region’s development approach, pointing out that over reliance on politically driven approaches have failed to deliver meaningful economic progress. Ogbuku spoke in Port Harcourt at a Niger Delta Business Roundtable organised by NDCCITMA, with the theme, “Creating a New Development Agenda for the Niger Delta Region.” Speaking, Ogbuku stated that what the region is lacking to perfect its developmental strides was the commitment, adding that the capital and individuals to implement it were available. He said: “Our people are thriving in oil and gas, banking and other sectors. We do not lack capital or capable individuals; what we lack is the commitment to develop our region.” The NDDC MD urged people of the region to be patriotic to the oil rich area, adding that investments would transform the fortune of Niger Delta. Ogbuku said: “If we don’t invest in this region, outsiders will not invest. If we invest, we create employment opportunities for our people. Let all of us be patriotic to this region.” The NDDC MD opined that with the business roundtable, leaders of the region would create a platform where practical ideas can translate into actionable strategies. However, the Chairman of the Board, Idare Gogo-Ogan, said the region which for long forms major political discourse has remained economically insufficient. Gogo-Ogan said that the nine Niger Delta states account for about one-fifth of Nigeria’s economy, making the region critical to the country’s external earnings, gas reserves, maritime access and environmental sustainability. He decried that such endowments have not translated into the desired development. He said: “The region must distinguish between near-term bankable projects, medium-term strategic platforms and long-term transformational ambitions. Security, power, logistics and project preparation remain the operating system of the regional economy and must be prioritised.”