The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reiterated its commitment to working closely with security agencies to sustain peace, enhance security, and accelerate development in the Niger Delta region.
The Commission’s Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Commander, Joint Task Force (JTF) South-South, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, and his entourage to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs, in a statement issued on January 21, 2026, said Ogbuku described the visit as significant, noting that it came early in the year and underscored the importance the Commission placed on security as a foundation for development.
According to him, “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 reaffirmed NDDC’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that peace in the Niger Delta was central to national economic prosperity given the region’s strategic role in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“The Niger Delta is the economic nerve of this nation. If the region is destabilised, it will affect the entire country’s economy. 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 stated.
He highlighted the Commission’s continued support to security formations, including assistance to the 16 Brigade in Bayelsa State, the commencement of a major Army base in Warri, and the donation of a naval jetty, gunboats, and houseboats to the Nigerian Navy in Bayelsa.
He further noted that sustained peace would attract investment, open up economic opportunities, and create jobs for the region’s youths, a key pathway to long-term stability.
Earlier, Rear Admiral Oladipo explained that the visit was to formally notify the NDDC of his assumption of duties and strengthen collaboration with the Commission. He noted that the JTF’s mandate was to protect the Niger Delta and ensure a secure environment for oil and gas production and other economic activities.
“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, and companies are returning. Workers are safe, and economic activities are picking up,” he said.
He added that Operation Delta Safe integrates multiple security agencies across land, sea, and air to ensure comprehensive security coverage and called for sustained partnership with the NDDC to boost crude oil production, maintain peace, and positively project the Niger Delta globally in line with the President’s mandate.
Present at the meeting were the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, and members of the NDDC management team.
