South-East Commission told to work with NDDC as investment company approved for east

…NDDC recommits to security support to agencies

Two major developments took place in the week in the Niger Delta and south east. An investment company is being set up for the east to mobilise capital especially from the Diaspora to develop the region.

This is as the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) has been directed to work with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), while the NDDC has made a key pronouncement to stand with the security agencies to protect the oil region.

Thus, Abubakar Momoh, the Minister of Regional Development, has charged the SEDC to collaborate with the NDDC in the execution of regional projects that would benefit the South East and the South-South states.

The Minister stated this during the South East Vision 2050 Stakeholders’ Forum at the International Conference Centre, Enugu.

Chiedu Ebie, the NDDC chairman, Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director, and Dimaro Denyanbofa, the Bayelsa State Representative on the board, joined other stakeholders at the event.

The Minister said the creation of the South East Development Commission by the administration of President Tinubu reflected an institutional commitment to the coordinated, targeted transformation of the region through the revitalisation of critical infrastructure, including the rail sector and the agricultural value chain.

Momoh said the event was a crowning moment in the development of the South East region, especially in fostering a united and prosperous future.

Declaring the Vision 2050 Stakeholders’ Forum open, Kashim Shettima, the Vice President, said that the 25-year development blueprint for the South-East region was a central pillar of Nigeria’s economic future.

He announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited, designed to mobilise resources from the diaspora, capital markets, and development finance institutions for the region’s development.

The Vice President said the gathering was a decisive break from short-term governance cycles toward a structured, multi-decade development framework.

“This forum reflects foresight, responsibility, and a shared understanding that the future is not something we wait for, but something we must deliberately design.

“In recognition of the distinctive character of the South-East, its entrepreneurial spirit, its global diaspora, and its long-standing relationship with international capital, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of the South East Investment Company Limited.”

Speaking earlier, Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State joined his colleagues in the region in endorsing the vision 2050, explaining that the vision is an opportunity for the South East region to tap into the national agenda tagged vision 2060.

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He applauded the unity of purpose among leaders and stakeholders in the region and proposed the birthing of a South East common market, describing the moment as the awakening of an economic giant.

He urged a paradigm shift in the planning and execution of projects across the region while calling on the people of the area to complement the renewed drive by the Federal Government to improve the security of lives and livelihoods as well as integrate all parts of the region’s plan for inclusive development.

In his welcome speech, Emeka Wogu, the Chairman of the South East Development Commission, thanked President Tinubu for his commitment to the progress and development of the South East region and its people.

Speaking in the same vein, Mark Okoye, the Managing Director of the SEDC, thanked President Tinubu for creating the commission as a special-purpose vehicle to champion the region’s economic transformation.

He said the SEDC will seek the partnership of state governments, the diaspora community, and the organised private sector in implementing the 2050 vision, aimed at charting a shared path to sustainable prosperity for South East Nigeria, focusing on infrastructure, power, peacebuilding, and connectivity, among others.

In a goodwill message, Azuta Mbata, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, commended the Federal Government for prioritising regional integration and development through the summit.

He said the integration of the South East in the broader national development agenda is key, and pledged the support of the people of the region for the aspirations of the Vision 2050 and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Meanwhile, the NDDC has reaffirmed support for security in the oil region, reaffirming its commitment to sustaining strong collaboration with security agencies to maintain peace, protect critical national assets, and accelerate development across the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku, the CEO, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by Suleiman Ibrahim, a rear admiral and Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim.

Ogbuku emphasised that security and development are inseparable, noting that meaningful development would not thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity, while underdevelopment itself often fuels insecurity.

“At the NDDC, we have established a robust working relationship with security agencies across the region because we believe that security and development are intertwined. Without security, communities cannot develop, and when communities are underdeveloped, insecurity is bound to thrive,” he said.

The Managing Director stressed that the Commission’s support for security agencies aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to ensure peace and security across the country, noting that the Niger Delta is among the most peaceful regions in Nigeria today due to sustained security efforts.

“All that we do in the Niger Delta is in line with Mr President’s mandate. Security support is a collective responsibility involving host communities, the government, and institutions like the NDDC. We will continue to support the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to enable them to carry out their duties effectively,” Ogbuku stated.

“What we have done so far is only a prelude to what is to come. We will keep the lines of communication open and undertake visits to better understand your challenges. It is not enough to sit in boardrooms; we must see realities on the ground,” he added.

Earlier, Ibrahim commended the NDDC for its visible and impactful interventions across the Niger Delta, describing the Commission’s projects as clear evidence of development under the current management.

The Naval Commander praised Ogbuku’s dedication and resilience, noting that his familiarisation tour across the Niger Delta revealed numerous NDDC-funded projects, including solar streetlights, inverter installations, naval base infrastructure, and the construction of a secondary school for the Nigerian Navy.

Rear Admiral Ibrahim disclosed that the Nigerian Navy recently launched “Operation Sentinel,” aimed at supporting crude oil exploration, production, and transportation, in line with national economic objectives.

He noted that with plans by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, to increase crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027, sustained security collaboration would be critical.

“If this target is achieved, the NDDC will be a major beneficiary, while the people of the Niger Delta will gain directly through increased development projects. I, therefore, appeal to the Commission to sustain and expand its support to enable the Navy to strengthen its security apparatus and assist NURPC in meeting and surpassing this production target,” he said.

Ibrahim also acknowledged the NDDC’s consistent support for security agencies and called for a stronger partnership to ensure lasting peace, increased oil production, and a positive global projection of the Niger Delta