The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has called on stakeholders in the Niger Delta to begin developing sustainable economic alternatives to crude oil by investing more in agriculture, technology and other sectors capable of driving long-term development in the region.
The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, made the call while speaking on Resource Control at the Nigerian Bar Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. He acknowledged the significant contribution of oil to Nigeria’s development but warned that the Niger Delta could not afford to remain dependent on petroleum indefinitely.
Ogbuku said the conversation around resource control must go beyond oil to include accurate data on the resources and economic activities of the region. According to him, without reliable data on what the Niger Delta produces, it would be difficult for stakeholders to establish what the region is entitled to receive. He therefore urged the people to take greater ownership of the region’s future.
The NDDC boss identified agriculture as one of the sectors where the region could exercise greater control, stressing that increased investment could improve food security, generate employment and create sustainable sources of income for women and young people.
Also contributing to the discussion, Paul Emerhana, a representative of the NDDC legal team, disclosed that the Commission was transitioning from what he described as “transaction to transformation” through institutional reforms, digitalisation and sustainable development initiatives. He cited the Commission’s solar street-lighting projects as interventions with environmental and social benefits, including improved security and reduced dependence on conventional energy sources.
Emerhana said the Commission had also intensified its digital transformation programme, particularly through the automation of its contract management processes, while expanding youth development initiatives through training in Artificial Intelligence and other digital skills. He said the focus on youth was informed by the need to prepare the region’s younger population for opportunities in the emerging digital economy.
The NDDC representative further highlighted the establishment of a Corporate Governance Department and the adoption of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles as part of efforts to strengthen accountability and ensure sustainable project delivery. At the conference, the NDDC Board Chairman, Mr Chiedu Ebie, and Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, were presented with awards in recognition of the Commission’s contributions to the development of the Niger Delta.