By Philip Ezuma, Port Harcourt
The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has reaffirmed commitment to the holistic development of the Niger Delta region.
The Managing Director of the commission Dr Samuel Ogbuku made the declaration, when he hosted a delegation from the Isoko Ethnic Nationality, led by the President General of Isoko Development Union, Prof. Chris Akpotu, at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stated that the Commission was open to all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region, noting that its mandate is to serve the people, and ensure the sustainable development of all communities in the area.
Ogbuku remarked, “We all face the same challenges. Therefore, we must all work together to address our challenges, regardless of our ethnicity. These challenges, like underdevelopment and ecological problems, bring us all together.”
We are all united by a common factor: the challenges we face. We must maintain this identity. We should leverage our bond, as standing alone may not be as strong as our collective strength.”
The Isoko and Ijaw people are essentially one people because we share a common lineage and we inter-marry. Our ancestral origins connect us, and we must recognise ourselves as one to achieve better development together, he vouched.
Ogbuku noted that the current NDDC Board and Management were committed to rewriting the Commission’s narrative through transparency, equity, and purposeful leadership. He stated that under the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and within the framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Commission was focused on transforming ideas into visible achievements.
He stated: “When we speak of the Renewed Hope Agenda, it is not just a slogan, it is a social contract between Mr. President and the Niger Delta people. It’s about translating vision into action. But we cannot afford to lose time. That is why we must all work together.”
