Stakeholders in the Niger Delta have been urged to champion environmental restoration, promote the blue economy and drive sustainable industrialization as part of efforts to reposition the region for growth.

They were also tasked with unlocking local investments, strengthening private sector leadership and accelerating infrastructure development to shape a new economic trajectory for the oil-rich region.

The call followed concerns that the region remains backwards despite its huge contributions to the nation’s economy and vast talents and resources.

An oil and gas expert and former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Simbi Wabote, also revealed that about $258 billion accrued to the six Niger Delta states from federal allocations, excess crude earnings, the amnesty programme and other interventions had not translated into commensurate development.

He said the funds were neither properly accounted for nor effectively deployed to transform the region, attributing the situation to policy inconsistencies, weak institutional frameworks and a volatile political environment.

Wabote, who spoke at the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA), in Port Harcourt yesterday, expressed concern over the development gap. He cited Rwanda as an example of how strategic planning and policy discipline could drive growth, noting that the country had recorded significant economic progress despite having fewer resources.

He stressed the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, warning that the absence of a clear development blueprint had continued to hinder progress in the Niger Delta.

“We must establish clear metrics to monitor progress and set measurable targets by institutionalising accountability,” he said.
In his remarks, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, called for a comprehensive needs assessment to guide development interventions in the region.

He explained that a structured needs assessment framework would ensure that projects are aligned with the priorities of the people and deliver meaningful impact.

Ogbuku noted that the current board of the commission was committed to changing the narrative by aligning its programmes with the realities of the region. He also commended President Bola Tinubu for ensuring stability in the commission through continuity in leadership.

He urged stakeholders to collaborate in developing a fresh blueprint for business and economic growth in the Niger Delta.

“We must think outside the box to restore the region to its former economic strength. Government alone cannot drive this process; the private sector must take the lead,” he said.

Chairman of the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, described the forum as a landmark initiative aimed at revitalising business activities and stimulating economic growth in the region.

He said the conference would produce a strategic roadmap to harness the region’s vast potential and reposition it as a major contributor to the national economy.

“We must move beyond potentials to measurable results. The Niger Delta occupies a significant position in Nigeria’s economy and must leverage this advantage for sustainable growth,” Ogan said.