NDDC Reaffirms Commitment to Security Agencies to Sustain Peace, Drive Development in Niger Delta
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reiterated its resolve to sustain close collaboration with security agencies in the Niger Delta region as part of efforts to maintain peace, enhance security, and fast-track socio-economic development.
The Managing Director of the Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the assurance when the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF), South-South, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, led a delegation of senior officers from various security agencies on a courtesy visit to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Describing the visit as timely and significant, Dr Ogbuku said it underscored the premium the Commission placed on security as a prerequisite for development in the region. He stressed that development efforts could not be sustained in the absence of peace and stability.
“Without security, there will be no development. Our roles are intertwined, and we are all working towards the mandate of Mr President. No matter what we have done so far, we are not there yet until development reaches every doorstep in the Niger Delta region,” he said.
The NDDC Managing Director reaffirmed the Commission’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that sustained peace in the Niger Delta was critical to Nigeria’s economic wellbeing due to the region’s strategic importance.
“The Niger Delta is the economic nerve of this nation. If the region is destabilised, it will affect the entire country’s economy. Nigeria is prosperous today because there is peace in the Niger Delta, and this is largely due to the efforts of the security agencies,” Ogbuku stated.
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He assured the JTF Commander of the Commission’s continued support, highlighting several interventions already undertaken by the NDDC to strengthen security operations across the region.
These include support to the 16 Brigade in Bayelsa State, the commencement of a major army base project in Warri, and the donation of a naval base jetty, gunboats, and houseboats to the Nigerian Navy in Ayakoro and Ayama communities in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
According to him, sustained peace would unlock economic opportunities, attract foreign investment, and create jobs for the region’s youths, stressing that employment generation remains key to long-term stability in the Niger Delta.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo said the visit was to formally notify the NDDC of his assumption of command and to deepen collaboration between Operation Delta Safe and the Commission.
He explained that the core mandate of the Joint Task Force was to protect the Niger Delta and guarantee a secure environment for oil and gas production and other economic activities. He noted that recent operations had significantly improved security across the region.
“During the Christmas season, we ensured that the Niger Delta was safe. Today, the Niger Delta is one of the safest regions in the country. Companies are returning, workers are safe, and economic activities are picking up,” Oladipo said.
The JTF Commander added that Operation Delta Safe was unique in its integration of multiple security agencies operating across land, sea, and air, providing comprehensive security coverage.
He called for sustained partnership with the NDDC to boost crude oil production, ensure lasting peace, and project the Niger Delta positively on the global stage in line with the President’s mandate.
Also present at the meeting were the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, and other members of the NDDC management team.
