President Bola Tinubu has tasked the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to develop the region, prioritizing human capital development, infrastructure, and peace.
Speaking at the NDDC’s 25th anniversary celebration in Port Harcourt, Tinubu emphasized the region’s significance to Nigeria’s economic prosperity, describing it as “the goose that lays the golden egg.”
The President’s remarks underscore the importance of the Niger Delta region to the country’s economic well-being. As the hub of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, the region plays a critical role in generating revenue for the nation.Tinubu directed the NDDC to complete abandoned projects, including the Kaa-Ataba Bridge, Okrika-Borokiri Bridge, and East-West Sampou Roads and Bridges.
He emphasized the need for the Commission to prioritize projects that directly impact the lives of ordinary people in rural communities.
The President also urged the NDDC to empower youth and women in the region. He encouraged the Commission to steer young people away from violence and militancy towards entrepreneurship and other legitimate means of self-development.
The president stressed the importance of collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development to leverage various initiatives available for youth empowerment.
He commended the NDDC leadership for their efforts to improve service delivery and encouraged them to sustain the momentum.
He noted that the Commission’s “Light Up the Niger Delta” initiative has not only reduced night crimes and enhanced security but has also extended trading hours and improved social life across the region.
The President highlighted 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 maximize the region’s agrarian resources for the benefit of both the region and the country.
He noted that his administration has embarked on several initiatives to boost the nation’s economy, including the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The project is expected to foster trade and connectivity across the region, open up new investment prospects, and spur the growth of eco-tourism and blue economy-based industries.
Tinubu emphasised that peace and security in the region is also noteworthy, stressing that there can be no sustainable development without peace, security of lives and property, and adherence to the rule of law.
