By Abasi Ita
The Cross River State Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strategic collaboration, aiming to accelerate infrastructure and social development across the state.
This renewed partnership was solidified during a courtesy visit by Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, and his management team to Governor Bassey Otu at the Executive Council Chambers in Calabar earlier today.
Governor Otu welcomed the NDDC delegation, describing the visit as both timely and essential for deepening synergy between the state and the federal interventionist agency.
“Cross River is a state eager to develop, but often constrained by limited resources.
We turn every available intervention, be it from the Federation Account or agencies like NDDC, into impact-driven projects that uplift our people,” the governor stated.
He expressed appreciation for the renewed partnership and the Commission’s willingness to re-engage on stalled or abandoned projects. The Governor also advocated for greater state inclusion in project planning and execution.
“We do not have any issues with the NDDC.
What may have occurred in the past was a breakdown in communication, which we are now set to fix. Our approach is lawful, organized, and people-centered,” Otu affirmed.
Governor Otu specifically highlighted key NDDC projects in Cross River, such as the Adiabo-Ikoeto road and the abandoned Ikom Medical Centre, urging their swift recommencement and completion.
He also raised concerns about long-neglected projects like the youth centre in Akpabuyo and called for NDDC’s intervention in refugee support, noting that Cross River currently hosts over 54,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) arising from conflicts from neighbouring Benue and the Republic of Cameroun
Emphasizing the importance of local input, Otu called for the inclusion of more Cross River-specific needs in the Commission’s work plan.
“There must be intentional inclusion. We may not be an oil-producing state at the volume of others, but we are part of the Niger Delta. Exclusion should not be our reward for peace and cooperation,” he asserted.
In his remarks, NDDC MD/CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, underscored the Commission’s new focus on building sustainable institutions, improving accountability, and completing legacy projects.
“We are transitioning from transactional governance to transformational impact.
Since assuming office, we have cleared all staff salary backlogs, engaged the Nigerian Liquified and Natural Gas (NLNG) to develop institutional governance policies, and commenced needs-assessment-driven projects across the region,” Dr. Ogbuku explained.
He commended Cross River’s cooperative stance and highlighted ongoing partnerships with private and public institutions, including NLNG and NNPC, in delivering crucial infrastructure, such as the world-class hospital project currently underway in Ikom.
Dr. Ogbuku also used the occasion to officially invite Governor Otu and the people of Cross River to the Commission’s upcoming 25th anniversary celebration, scheduled for July 6–12, 2025, in Abuja.
The grand finale, set for July 12, will feature a public lecture by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expected as Special Guest of Honour and former President Goodluck Jonathan as Guest of Honour
“This silver jubilee is not just NDDC’s celebration; it is a moment to reflect on the shared journey of the Niger Delta.
“The ecological, environmental, and economic challenges that unite us should also unite our development efforts,” Dr. Ogbuku concluded.
Both parties agreed to immediately deepen technical engagement, with Governor Otu directing relevant state officials to remain in close communication with NDDC’s Executive Director of Projects (EDP) to finalize priority interventions in Cross River.