The Cross River State government has applauded the strides achieved by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 25 years.
Governor Bassey Otu, represented by the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, who led the state’s delegation made the remarks while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the NDDC 25th anniversary plenary session, held on Saturday, at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“The good people of Cross River State join the rest of the Niger Delta in celebrating this momentous occasion of the NDDC.
“Over the past 25 years, the commission has made notable strides in transforming 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.”
Highlighting the NDDC’s infrastructural interventions, the Gov. Otu disclosed that the commission has executed 227 completed and ongoing road projects across the state.
These projects, he noted, have significantly enhanced connectivity, trade, and access to essential services in previously underserved areas.
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“These roads have revolutionized transportation infrastructure. They have improved access to markets, farmlands, healthcare facilities, and schools, while also creating jobs and energizing local communities.
“The NDDC’s work has stimulated economic activity in some of the hitherto hard-to-reach communities,” the governor said.
In addition to roads, Gov. Otu acknowledged the NDDC’s significant interventions in electricity, healthcare, education, and youth skill acquisition, describing them as “lifelines” that continue to uplift the standard of living for residents of the state and the region at large.
While highlighting the challenges posed by state’s exclusion from direct oil revenue allocations following the loss of its oil-producing status in 2013, the governor commended the NDDC for ensuring the state remained a beneficiary of its development initiatives.
As the NDDC enters its next chapter, Gov. Otu reaffirmed state government’s readiness to partner with the commission in driving inclusive development and bridging socio-economic gaps in the Niger Delta.
“We urge the NDDC to sustain and deepen its interventions, and we reaffirm Cross River State’s commitment to working hand-in-hand with the commission toward shared development goals,” he said.
