The Cross River State Government (CRSG) has joined other states and stakeholders across the Niger Delta region to mark the silver jubilee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), lauding the agency for its 25 years of consistent strides in infrastructure development, social welfare, and the empowerment of youths and women across the state.
Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, led the Cross River delegation to the NDDC 25th Anniversary Plenary Session, held on Saturday at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Speaking to journalists at the event, Odey commended the Commissionโs enduring legacy of service and impact across the region.
โThe good people of Cross River State join the rest of the Niger Delta in celebrating this momentous occasion of the NDDC,โ Odey said. โOver the past 25 years, the Commission has made notable strides in transforming the lives of citizens in Cross River State and across the Niger Delta, and we deeply appreciate the impact of its projects on our socio-economic development.”
Citing the Commissionโs infrastructural footprint, the Deputy Governor revealed that NDDC has undertaken a total of 227 road projectsโboth completed and ongoingโacross Cross River State. He stressed that these projects have significantly transformed the state’s landscape by improving transportation, economic connectivity, and access to basic services in long-neglected communities.
โThese roads have revolutionized transportation infrastructure,โ Odey emphasised. โThey have improved access to markets, farmlands, healthcare facilities, and schools, while also creating jobs and energising local communities. The NDDCโs work has stimulated economic activity in some of the hitherto hard-to-reach communities.โ
Beyond road construction, Odey applauded the Commissionโs efforts in other critical sectors such as rural electrification, healthcare delivery, educational support, and youth skills acquisition. These interventions, he noted, serve as โlifelinesโ that have lifted the quality of life for many residents across the state.
The Deputy Governor also addressed the lingering fiscal challenges confronting Cross River State since the loss of its oil-producing status in 2013. Despite the stateโs exclusion from direct oil revenue, he acknowledged the NDDCโs fairness in continuing its developmental interventions in the state, describing it as a gesture of inclusive governance.
As the NDDC charts a new course into its next phase, Odey reiterated the state governmentโs unwavering commitment to collaborating with the Commission to address developmental gaps and expand the frontiers of opportunity across the Niger Delta.
โWe urge the NDDC to sustain and deepen its interventions, and we reaffirm Cross River Stateโs commitment to working hand-in-hand with the Commission toward shared development goals.โ
Accompanying the Deputy Governor to the anniversary celebration were Hon. (Engr.) Francis OgbanโMember representing Biase State Constituency, Hon. Engr. Thomas ArukuโMember representing Ogoja Constituency, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, Deputy Chief of Staff Boniface Okache, Special Adviser on Special Duties Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, and NDDC Special Adviser, Chief Ani Esin.
The grand finale of the NDDCโs 25th anniversary was graced by an array of dignitaries including the Senate President, H.E. Dr. Godswill Akpabio; former President of Nigeria, H.E. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of Regional Development; State Governors; Senators; NDDC Board Membersโincluding Cross River State Representative, Rt. Hon. Orok Dukeโtraditional rulers, and a host of other key stakeholders.
