Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh has urged governments, development agencies, communities and private-sector stakeholders to coordinate more closely in addressing the Niger Delta’s infrastructure, economic and environmental challenges.
Momoh spoke in Port Harcourt at the 2026 Partners for Sustainable Development Conference organized by the Niger Delta Development Commission under the theme “Synergy for Transformation.”
He said no single institution could transform the region and called for clearer programmes, responsibilities, timelines and performance measures.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Government was working on a National Policy on Regional Development to harmonize the work of regional development commissions with broader national priorities.
He called for increased investment in infrastructure, agriculture, agro-processing, renewable energy, transport, digital services, tourism, manufacturing and rural economies.
Momoh cited projects including the 1.2-kilometre Ataba-Kaaba Bridge in Rivers State as examples of ongoing regional infrastructure interventions.
He also urged governors, traditional rulers, youth groups, women and communities to take greater ownership of development programmes, warning that infrastructure alone would not eliminate poverty without corresponding investment in livelihoods, skills and local enterprise.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, called for the commission’s regional master plan to be institutionalized through an amendment of the NDDC Act.
He said legal backing would help ensure that long-term regional planning survived changes in leadership.
NDDC Managing Director Samuel Ogbuku said the commission had adopted a governance framework developed by KPMG to strengthen accountability, clarify institutional roles and improve continuity.
He also announced plans for full digitization of the commission and the establishment of a community monitoring committee that would assess implementation of conference commitments and publish a scorecard at the next meeting.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, represented by his deputy, Chinyere Ekomaru, called for stronger cooperation between NDDC and the nine oil-producing states.
PANDEF Chairman Godknows Boladei Igali also urged the Federal Government to activate the presidential monitoring committee provided for under the NDDC Act and strengthen statutory oversight mechanisms.
