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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has underscored the critical role of the Niger Delta region in Nigeria’s economic growth, describing it as “the goose that lays the golden egg.”
Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt yesterday, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to unlocking the region’s vast potential.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, President Tinubu tasked the NDDC management with intensifying efforts to develop the Niger Delta, emphasising both infrastructure and human capital development.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the SGF on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, the President was quoted as saying: “This region is pivotal to our national prosperity,” he said.
“Our legacy project, the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, will serve as a viable alternative to the East-West Road. This flagship infrastructure 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.”
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The President also directed the NDDC Board and Management, through the Minister of Regional Development, to complete several 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. He stressed the importance of these projects for the region’s connectivity and economic vitality.
“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,” he said.
He praised the commission’s “Light Up the Niger Delta” initiative, noting its success in reducing night crimes, enhancing security, extending trading hours, and improving social life.
The President further urged the commission to focus 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.”
On peace and security, Tinubu emphasized, “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.”
He also called attention to the region’s agricultural potential, encouraging investments that would unlock and maximize the Niger Delta’s agrarian resources. “The Niger Delta has vast potential beyond oil and gas. Agriculture must be a key focus to benefit both the region and the country.”
