The newly inaugurated South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has pledged to prioritise large-scale infrastructure and human capital projects as part of its blueprint to accelerate economic transformation across the oil-rich region.
At its maiden board meeting in Abuja on Thursday, September 4, the Chairman, Chibudom Nwuche, outlined the commission’s focus areas, ranging from transport corridors and industrialisation to agriculture, housing, telecommunications and power supply.
Nwuche, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, described the SSDC Act as a landmark legislation capable of repositioning the Niger Delta.
He recalled his role in the passage of the Niger Delta Development Commission Act two decades ago, noting that the Tinubu administration’s assent to the SSDC Bill earlier this year signalled a renewed commitment to equitable development.
“By the virtue of Section 8 of the SSDC Act, the Commission has been given a clear, bold and urgent charge which includes identification of underlying causes of underdevelopment in the region, and to formulate practical solutions and implement sustainable development projects and programmes for the benefit of the region.,” he said.
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He further assured that the commission would work hand-in-hand with state governments, federal institutions and existing development agencies to harmonise projects and avoid duplication.
In her remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SSDC, Usoro Akpabio, emphasised that infrastructure would serve as the backbone of the region’s transformation.
She said the commission would invest in roads, ports, energy and digital connectivity to boost trade, attract investment and integrate rural communities into the wider economy.
“We are a region ready for the world. Every bridge we build, every highway we expand, every fibre-optic line we lay, will bring our people closer to prosperity,” Akpabio declared.
The SSDC was formally inaugurated on 28 August 2025 by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Ahmadu, following the signing of its enabling Act by President Bola Tinubu in March. Its jurisdiction covers Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.
