The Cross River State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) are set to deepen their collaboration on infrastructure and social development projects within the state. This renewed commitment came after NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and his team paid a courtesy visit to Governor Bassey Otu in Calabar.
Governor Otu welcomed the NDDC delegation, emphasizing the timely nature of the visit for strengthening the synergy between the state and the federal agency. He highlighted Cross River’s eagerness for development despite limited resources, stating that all interventions are channeled into “impact-driven projects that uplift our people.”
The Governor expressed appreciation for the revived partnership and the NDDC’s willingness to re-engage on stalled or abandoned projects. He advocated for greater state involvement in project planning and execution, affirming, “What may have occurred in the past was a breakdown in communication, which we are now set to fix.”
Specifically, Governor Otu called for the swift completion of projects like the Adiabo-Ikoneto road and the abandoned Ikom Medical Centre, and urged intervention for the long-neglected youth center in Akpabuyo. He also sought NDDC’s support for the over 54,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently in the state.
Otu stressed the importance of including more Cross River-specific needs in the Commission’s work plan, noting that despite not being a major oil-producing state, Cross River is an integral part of the Niger Delta.
NDDC’s Focus on Sustainable Impact:
In his remarks, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku reiterated the NDDC’s focus on building sustainable institutions, improving accountability, and completing legacy projects. He stated that the Commission is shifting from “transactional governance to transformational impact,” citing actions such as clearing staff salary backlogs, engaging NLNG for institutional governance policies, and commencing needs-assessment-driven projects across the region.
Dr. Ogbuku commended Cross River’s cooperative stance and highlighted ongoing partnerships with public and private institutions like NLNG and NNPC in delivering infrastructure, including a world-class hospital project in Ikom.
He also extended an official invitation to Governor Otu and the people of Cross River for NDDC’s upcoming 25th-anniversary celebration, scheduled from July 6–12, 2025, in Abuja. The grand finale on July 12 will feature a public lecture by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Special Guest of Honour and former President Goodluck Jonathan as Guest of Honour.
Dr. Ogbuku emphasized that the silver jubilee is a moment to reflect on the shared journey of the Niger Delta, stressing that “the ecological, environmental, and economic challenges that unite us should also unite our development efforts.”
Both parties agreed to immediately deepen technical engagement, with Governor Otu directing relevant state officials to maintain close contact with NDDC’s Executive Director of Projects to finalize priority interventions for Cross River.
What are your thoughts on this renewed partnership and its potential impact on Cross River State? Tell us in the comment section.
