The Cross River State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have reaffirmed a strategic alliance aimed at accelerating infrastructure and social development initiatives across the state. This renewed commitment was underscored during a high-level courtesy visit by the NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, to Governor Bassey Otu at the Executive Council Chambers in Calabar.
Welcoming the delegation, Governor Otu described the visit as both timely and necessary, coming at a crucial moment in the stateโs pursuit of inclusive growth and sustainable partnerships.
โCross River is a state eager to develop, but often constrained by limited resources. We turn every available intervention, be it from the Federation Account or agencies like NDDC, into impact-driven projects that uplift our people,โ the governor stated, setting the tone for deeper institutional cooperation.
He applauded the NDDC’s commitment to reviving stalled and abandoned projects in the state and called for a more participatory approach that ensures Cross Riverโs peculiar needs are reflected in the Commissionโs annual work plans. Governor Otu pointed to key infrastructural efforts such as the AdiaboโIkoNeto road and the abandoned Ikom Medical Centre, advocating for expedited work on these and other neglected initiatives including the youth centre in Akpabuyo.
โWe do not have any issues with the NDDC. What may have occurred in the past was a breakdown in communication, which we are now set to fix. Our approach is lawful, organized, and people-centered,โ he assured.
Otu also urged the Commission to consider Cross Riverโs unique humanitarian burden, highlighting that the state currently shelters over 54,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), a factor that merits urgent development assistance and tailored support from interventionist agencies.
He further stressed the imperative for equitable inclusion in Niger Delta development efforts. โThere must be intentional inclusion. We may not be an oil-producing state at the volume of others, but we are part of the Niger Delta. Exclusion should not be our reward for peace and cooperation,โ Otu declared.
In response, Dr. Ogbuku reaffirmed the NDDCโs shift from transactional to transformational governance, with a renewed focus on sustainable institutions and legacy projects. He noted that under his leadership, the Commission has prioritised accountability, cleared salary arrears, and launched needs-based projects across the region.
โWe are transitioning from transactional governance to transformational impact. Since assuming office, we have cleared all staff salary backlogs, engaged the Nigerian Liquified and Natural Gas (NLNG) to develop institutional governance policies, and commenced needs-assessment-driven projects across the region,โ he said.
Accompanied by the Cross River State representative on the NDDC Board, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, and other senior staff, Dr. Ogbuku lauded the stateโs cooperative stance and highlighted major collaborative efforts, including partnerships with the NLNG and NNPC to deliver signature infrastructure, such as the world-class hospital project underway in Ikom.
The NDDC boss also extended a formal invitation to Governor Otu and the people of Cross River to the Commissionโs silver jubilee celebration slated for July 6โ12, 2025, in Abuja. The grand finale, scheduled for July 12, will feature a public lecture by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expected as Special Guest of Honour and former President Goodluck Jonathan as Guest of Honour.
โThis silver jubilee is not just NDDCโs celebration; it is a moment to reflect on the shared journey of the Niger Delta. The ecological, environmental, and economic challenges that unite us should also unite our development efforts,โ Dr. Ogbuku noted.
The engagement concluded with both parties agreeing to deepen technical collaboration. Governor Otu directed relevant state officials to maintain close coordination with the NDDCโs Executive Director of Projects to ensure effective delivery of priority interventions for Cross River.
