The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has charged the newly inaugurated South South Development Commission (SSDC) to embark on impactful projects that will uplift the standard of living in the region while advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Senator Akpabio gave the charge on Thursday in Abuja when the board and management of the new Commission paid him a courtesy visit. He noted that the SSDC carries a significant responsibility to drive economic transformation and inclusive growth across the six states of the South South region.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Anietie Ekong, Akpabio urged the board to see their appointment not as a reward but as a call to serve.
“The ball is now in your court to add value to the South South region through this Development Commission,” he said. “You have a lot of responsibilities to develop the region. I want you to know that it is not a bonanza. It is a call to service — a call to put on your thinking cap to add value to the economy of the nation and to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President who set up this Commission.”
Akpabio lauded President Tinubu for establishing the Commission, describing it as a recognition of the South South’s immense contribution to Nigeria’s economy.
“The Niger Delta has been good to Nigeria. We have kept the economy of the nation going, and so giving us this opportunity to further develop other resources in the Niger Delta shows that Nigeria cares about us,” he said.
Assures of Legislative Support and Adequate Funding
The Senate President thanked members of both chambers of the National Assembly for passing the SSDC Bill into law, despite earlier reservations due to the existence of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He clarified that the SSDC’s mandate extends beyond oil-producing communities to cover all parts of the South South region.
“We shall continue to support you to fully take off and execute big projects that we shall come and commission,” Akpabio assured. “We will support you to make sure you are adequately funded. You can count on me, my office, and my colleagues. We will support you to succeed.”
He reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to ensure equitable funding and oversight of development commissions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
SSDC Board Pledges Commitment to Mandate
In his remarks, the Chairman of the SSDC Board, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, Senator Akpabio, and the National Assembly for the passage of the bill establishing the Commission.
He assured that under his leadership, the SSDC would focus on transparency, accountability, and effective service delivery.
“Under my leadership as Chairman, I assure you that we shall keep faith in executing the core mandate of this Commission,” Nwuche said. “We will work closely with you and the Senate and listen to guidance from stakeholders. We will avoid the mistakes of the past and ensure our people feel the impact of governance.”
Commission Promises Regional Economic Renewal
The pioneer Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SSDC, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, commended the visionary leadership of Senator Akpabio and the National Assembly in establishing the Commission. She pledged that the new interventionist agency would drive economic renewal and human capital development across the region.
“This Commission will align with other sister development agencies and work with state governments while executing its independent mandate,” she said. “We will unlock the potentials and stranded wealth of the South South people and become a model for other development agencies in Nigeria.”
Ms. Akpabio added that the SSDC’s vision encompasses both infrastructure development and human capacity building, aimed at harnessing the region’s talents and promoting sustainable growth.
“We will carry out sustainable development for our people, unlock their potentials, and bring out hidden talents across all sectors,” she stated.
