President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Niger Delta to Nigeria’s economic development, describing the region as “the goose that lays the golden egg.”
Speaking on Saturday through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, the President called on the Commission’s leadership to intensify efforts toward both regional development and human capital advancement.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the SGF on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to infrastructure and inclusive growth. He highlighted the ongoing 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a transformative legacy project that would complement the East-West Road, enhancing trade, connectivity, and unlocking investment opportunities in the hydrocarbon-rich belt of the Niger Delta. The highway, he said, would also stimulate eco-tourism and industries based on the blue economy.
“As part of our drive to complete abandoned but critical infrastructure, I have directed the Board and Management of the NDDC, through the Minister of Regional Development, to prioritise projects such as the Kaa-Ataba Bridge, Okrika-Borokiri Bridge, Bonny Ring Road, Gbaregolo Roads and Bridges, and the East-West Sampou Roads and Bridges, among others,” Tinubu stated.
Founded in 2000, the NDDC was established to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta. Commending the Commission’s leadership for recent improvements in service delivery, the President urged them to maintain the momentum and continue focusing on projects that deliver direct impact to local communities.
“While infrastructure is vital, the NDDC must also give equal attention to human capital development. It is the most reliable measure of true progress,” he said. He praised the Commission’s “Light Up the Niger Delta” initiative, noting its impact on security, night-time commerce, and quality of life in the region.
The President further stressed the importance of youth and women’s empowerment. “Constructively engaging the youth and steering them away from militancy and violence toward entrepreneurship and skill development is key. I encourage the NDDC to partner with the Ministry of Youth Development to harness existing initiatives tailored for this purpose.”
Tinubu underscored the need for sustained peace, security, and the rule of law, stating that these are essential foundations for long-term development. He also urged the NDDC to explore agriculture as a key growth area, citing the region’s vast untapped agrarian potential beyond oil and gas.
As the NDDC marks its 25th anniversary, the President called on the people of the Niger Delta to continue supporting his administration’s policies and programmes for the collective progress of the region and the country at large.
