President Bola Tinubu has granted the Niger Delta Commission (NDDC) permission to borrow an additional N1 trillion on top of its N1.9 trillion 2024 budget to complete more projects and drive development in the region. This approval came after the Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit in Port Harcourt, where key stakeholders urged the president to consider borrowing to fund developmental projects in the oil-rich region.
The Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, presented the N1.9 trillion budget for 2024 to the House of Representatives Committee. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, representing the president at the summit, assured that the NDDC would now have adequate funding to bring development to the region, emphasizing a shift towards regional-focused development projects.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan also expressed concerns about political interference in NDDC’s activities and urged politicians, including Akpabio, to allow the commission to fulfill its mandate effectively without undue pressure.
The summit discussed the completion of the East-West road projects and emphasized the importance of infrastructure development and empowering the region through agriculture. The call for fast-tracking the East-West road project was highlighted by Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.