Commission Pledges To Overhaul South-South Devt.

Ismail Abdulaziz
Sep, Thu, 2025

General News

Commission pledges to overhaul South-South devt.

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By Angela Atabo

The Chairman of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), Chibudom Nwuche, has pledged to overhaul the development trajectory of the South-South region.

Nwuche, who said this at the inaugural meeting of the SSDC Board in Abuja on Thursday, also pledged to transform the commission for the benefit of the nation.

According to him, the commission will tackle the region’s deep-seated infrastructural and socio-economic challenges with urgency, vision, and strategic planning.

He explained that the passage of the Niger Delta Development Commission Act would help in catalysing the development of the Niger Delta region and bring the needed succour to the masses of those regions.

“Our country, from independence, has held a lot of promise, but unfortunately, we are still on the journey to development, while our contemporaries, like Malaysia, China and Indonesia, have made much more progress.

“With the very bold move of Mr President in passing the development commissions into law, it will give room for accelerated development of the country as a whole.

“By virtue of section 8 of the SSDC Act, the Commission has been given a clear, bold, and urgent charge which includes the identification of underlying causes of underdevelopment in the region.

“It will then formulate practical solutions, and implement sustainable development projects and programmes for the benefit of the region.”

Nwuche said the commission was mandated to look at the overall development of the South-South region, including railways and road transportation, waterways transportation, industries, agriculture, telecommunication, electricity, urban and housing development, among others.

He added that the commission would address these priority areas by strategically deploying resources to ensure steady and sustainable progress.

“SSDC will equally prioritise the empowerment of youth and women, who have disproportionately endured the adverse effects of oil production, particularly amid the region’s unprecedented unemployment levels caused partly by our region being the oil-bearing part of our country.’’

He said to achieve the mandate; SSDC in collaboration with relevant stakeholders such as the National Assembly and the Governors of the South-South States, would consult constantly with other development organisations to avoid duplication of projects and efforts.

“Good governance is key to any meaningful, sustainable development. It is at the heart of realising our mandate. We must therefore adopt and operate a solid corporate governance framework that encourages inclusivity, transparency, and accountability.”

He therefore, appealed to the Board members and other staff to abide by the code of conduct for public officers stipulated in the Constitution and work to earn the trust and respect of the people who called them to serve.

Also speaking, Ms Usoro Akpabio, Managing Director of SSDC, said the Commission would ensure that the region’s cities, towns and rural communities are not left behind.

“Infrastructure remains central to this transformation. Roads, ports, energy and digital connectivity are no longer luxuries, but they are critical assets that will unlock opportunities, enhance trade and attract investment.

“We will build every bridge, expand every highway, and lay every fibre-optic line. We will bring our people closer to prosperity.

“Yet development is not defined by structures alone. It is powered by people. That is why we will be unwavering in our support for entrepreneurs, SMEs, women and our vibrant youth.”

Akpabio said SSDC would invest in capacity building, financial access, innovation ecosystems and digital tools, ensuring that the good people of the South-South are not just beneficiaries of development, but remain its driving force.

“SSDC will embrace digital transformation as a strategic pillar for development, support tech-driven SMEs and start-ups to scale and access new markets while promoting ICT adoption in education, healthcare and commerce.’’

She added that the commission would promote blue economy, arts, culture and tourism, which she described as a vital economic levers and the cultural treasures of the South-South.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

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