Efforts are underway to arrange a retreat and agricultural summit for the Niger Delta area, aligned with the agrarian initiatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. This announcement was made by Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), during the launch of the Renewed Hope Multi-Purpose Training Centre in Otuokpoti, located in the Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
Ogbuku stated that the retreat would be organized in partnership with the state governments in the Niger Delta region. He expressed, “The NDDC is committed to realizing the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government in the Niger Delta area.” He emphasized the dedication of the Commission’s Board and Management to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mission to transform the narrative in Nigeria’s oil-rich region.
He promised that “The NDDC will support the President’s agricultural vision, ensuring that we leverage agriculture as a means for peace and security in the Niger Delta. A hungry person is an angry person. Training people solely for the sake of training is not our goal. We aim to advance agriculture by collaborating with the various state governments in the region.
“Shortly, the Commission will host a mini-agricultural retreat for state governments and agriculture commissioners. Each state in the region has particular strengths in agriculture. We aspire to create regional integration for agriculture, which will eventually lead to a regional agricultural summit where a detailed master plan for the region’s agriculture will be formulated. This is aimed at fostering food security in the Niger Delta region.
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“Who says that some of the crops imported into the country cannot be cultivated here? Let us work together to ensure that the region achieves food sufficiency and security. Many of our states are no longer cultivating crops. For instance, the Ogbia Local Government Area was once renowned for its cocoyams. Today, they are scarcely found in our territory. Why can’t we revive it?
“All these goals are attainable because we have collaborators. We may not be the most knowledgeable people. This does not imply that we have a deeper understanding of the administration than everyone else; rather, it is due to the collective effort of those who have united to facilitate our task, and those individuals include our leaders. The President is actively involved and providing us with purposeful direction under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The Managing Director also highlighted that the NDDC is involving all stakeholders to foster harmony and teamwork in the effort to develop the previously overlooked Niger Delta region. “It is not solely our efforts; it’s a collaboration and combined actions from all stakeholders who believe it is time for stability in the NDDC to ensure that we deliver development to the people of the Niger Delta region.
“We are grateful to our stakeholders for their support and motivation, which has strengthened our determination to provide our people with what they deserve. We acknowledge the state governments for their support and collaboration in various developmental initiatives.”
Reflecting on the Federal Government’s agricultural programs, Ogbuku stressed the importance of implementing them within the Niger Delta region, noting that the NDDC has consistently promoted policies and programs aimed at enhancing food security and alleviating poverty in the states under its jurisdiction.
