Chibudom Nwuche, a former lawmaker from Rivers State, is now at the forefront of efforts to bring change to the Niger Delta, following his nomination as Chairman of the South South Development Commission (SSDC). The Senate has urged him and other members of the newly formed commission to quickly begin work to address long-standing problems affecting the region.
During a screening session held by the Senate Committee on the South South Development Commission, chaired by Senator Benson Kombowei, the nominees were reminded of their responsibility to help the Niger Delta recover from years of environmental damage, economic hardship, and broken infrastructure.
Joining Nwuche in leadership is Usoro Offiong Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State, who has been nominated as the Managing Director of the SSDC. Several other candidates from across the South South states were also presented for roles as executive directors, each in charge of specific sectors such as projects, finance, corporate services, and human development.
Senator Kombowei noted that the commission must begin with clear, community-based programs that meet the real needs of people living in the region. He stated, “The region has suffered decades of neglect. We expect this commission to change the narrative by executing people-focused projects that tackle the root causes of unrest, poverty, and ecological damage.”
Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, who chairs the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, also shared his thoughts during the session. He pointed out that this is a great opportunity for the SSDC to set a new course for the region and urged the board to work as a team.
Addressing Akpabio directly, he said: “Madam MD nominee, I believe you are one of the first women to lead a development commission of this kind. You have your work cut out for you—not just to serve but to lead by example.”
“We believe you are up to the task based on your credentials and the responses you’ve provided. I urge you to carry your colleagues along, to avoid internal conflicts that could derail the agency’s mission,” he added.
He also noted that the commission should build strong ties with the governments of the South South states to make the best use of the region’s wealth in natural resources like oil, gas, and minerals.
In her response, Akpabio promised a fair and equal approach to project distribution across the region’s six states. She also said that developing people and reaching remote communities would be a top priority.
“In regional governance, we will be guided by indices such as population and levels of underdevelopment. Special attention will be given to healthcare, especially in rural areas,” Akpabio said.
“COVID-19 taught us that while general hospitals received attention, rural communities were neglected. We will prioritise medical outreaches and work towards revamping decaying health infrastructure,” she assured.
