Edith CHUKU
The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas (rtd), has urged the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, to focus more on economic empowerment and human capital development, stating that meaningful progress must go beyond roads and bridges.
Ibas who emphasised the need for a holistic approach to development in the Niger Delta, observed that the region was endowed with vast natural and human resources and should adopt development models that stimulate regional and national economic growth.
He described the NDDC projects in Rivers State as “economic arteries” that connect communities and transform lives.
The SOLAD commended NDDC for partnering with the state and citing key projects such as the ongoing Kaa-Ataba Bridge, linking Khana and Andoni Local Government Areas, and the Okrika-Borokiri Bridge in Okrika Local Government Area.
He states this while receiving the Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Abubakar Momoh, during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Ibas described the minister’s visit as a positive step toward aligning federal and state development goals. He called for deeper collaboration between the federal ministry of regional development, the NDDC, the newly established South-South Commission and the Rivers State government.
“We must remove bottlenecks, identify real needs, and ensure impact is felt where it matters most.”
The administrator called on development partners to expand their interventions in the Niger Delta by prioritising innovation hubs, industrial clusters, digital centres, and skills acquisition programs alongside physical infrastructure.
“Infrastructure remains a major need, and so is social investment, human capital development, and economic inclusion. A bridge that doesn’t lead to opportunities is a bridge half built.”
Ibas observed that the Niger Delta was endowed with vast natural and human resources and should adopt development models that stimulate regional and national economic growth.
“We must focus on innovation hubs, industrial clusters, agro-processing zones, digital infrastructure, skill acquisition centres, and youth enterprise development programs,” Vice Admiral Ibas urged.
In his remarks, the minister who was accompanied by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, as well as directors from the ministry and NDDC, explained that his visit was part of a nationwide assessment tour to evaluate ongoing and abandoned NDDC projects, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to complete all such initiatives in the region.
He lauded Ibas for what he described as fostering peace and stability in the state, which he noted had attracted investments and revitalised commercial activities.
