The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to sustained collaboration with security agencies in the Niger Delta region, stressing that peace and security are fundamental to accelerated development and national prosperity.
The Managing Director of the Commission, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), South-South, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, who led a delegation of senior officers from sister security agencies to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Describing the visit as timely and symbolic, Dr Ogbuku noted that it underscored the Commission’s recognition of security as the bedrock of meaningful development. He emphasised that without a secure environment, development initiatives would be difficult to sustain.
“Without security, there will be no development. Our roles are intertwined, and we are all working towards the mandate of Mr President. No matter what we have done so far, we are not there yet until development reaches every doorstep in the Niger Delta region,” Ogbuku stated.
The NDDC boss reiterated the Commission’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that peace in the Niger Delta is critical not only to regional stability but also to the nation’s economic survival.
“The Niger Delta is the economic nerve of this nation. If the region is destabilised, it will affect the entire country’s economy. That is why we will not allow that to happen. Nigeria is prosperous today because there is peace in the Niger Delta, and this is largely due to the efforts of the security agencies,” he said.
Ogbuku assured the JTF Commander of the Commission’s readiness to sustain and deepen its support for security agencies, highlighting several interventions already undertaken by the NDDC across the region.
These include support for the 16 Brigade in Bayelsa State, the commencement of a major army base project in Warri, and the donation of a naval base jetty, gunboats, and houseboats to the Nigerian Navy in Ayakoro and Ayama communities in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“We will continue to do more for the security agencies in the interest of peace and development in the Niger Delta,” he added.
According to the Managing Director, sustained peace in the region would unlock economic opportunities, attract foreign investment, and create jobs for the teeming youth population, noting that employment generation remains a critical pathway to long-term stability.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo said the visit was to formally notify the NDDC of his assumption of duty as Commander of Operation Delta Safe and to strengthen collaboration between the task force and the Commission.
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He explained that the JTF’s core mandate was to protect the Niger Delta and ensure a secure environment for oil and gas production and other economic activities critical to national revenue.
“Our job is to protect the Niger Delta, and we need your support. We are also here to support you. During the Christmas season, we ensured that the Niger Delta was safe. Today, the Niger Delta is one of the safest regions in the country. Companies are returning, workers are safe, and economic activities are picking up,” Oladipo said.
The JTF Commander further noted that Operation Delta Safe is unique in its integration of multiple security agencies operating across land, sea, and air, ensuring comprehensive security coverage of the region.
He called for sustained partnership with the NDDC to boost crude oil production, guarantee lasting peace, and project the Niger Delta positively on the global stage, in line with President Tinubu’s mandate.
Also present at the meeting were the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Ifedayo Abegunde, and other members of NDDC management.