Port Harcourt, July 30, 2023 – Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Chief Executive of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has assured leaders of Niger Delta ex-agitators and other stakeholders that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will bring positive changes to the Niger Delta.
Ogbuku urged them to play their part in sustaining the peace in the region so as to encourage development and attract investors.
Ogbuku gave the assurance when leaders and members of Phases one, two and three ex-agitators and beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) visited him at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
in a statement signed by Dr Ibitoye Abosede, the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Obuku was quoted as saying that Tinubu was concerned about the challenges facing the people of the Niger Delta.
“The President is concerned about the underdevelopment of the region, but he needs our cooperation to ensure there is peace and prosperity”, he said.
Ogbuku commended the ex-agitators for playing their role as critical stakeholders, stressing that only peace could attract investments and create job opportunities in the region.
“Peace in the Niger Delta region is critical to attracting continuous investments in the region and such investments will create employment opportunities for the people of the region.
“We want the world to know that Niger Delta people have gone beyond street agitation; we are now involved in intellectual engagements.
“The time for agitation is over, this is the time for development. We sacrificed a lot during the struggle for the emancipation of the Niger Delta region. This is the time to turn that struggle into development.
“Our youths complain about lack of employment, but this cannot come from government alone. Investors must see our region as peaceful and politically stable before they can bring employment-generating projects.
“It is, therefore, our responsibility to ensure that Niger Delta remains peaceful and stable for employment creation.
“The Niger Delta is one of the most peaceful regions in the country and we are expecting businesses to return to the region.
“Let us mind how we use the media because if used negatively, it will be to our detriment as we drive away local and foreign investors,” he said.
Ogbuku expressed regret that many investment opportunities that should have come to the Niger Delta, had moved to other regions because those places were perceived to be more conducive for business.
He said that the commission was focused in ensuring the sustainability of its Public-Private Partnership scheme to ensure a win-win for everyone.
Earlier, the leaders of the ex-agitators had expressed “unequivocal support” for the leadership of Ogbuku and condemned some individuals campaigning for a change in the current leadership of the commission. (GBN)
