The Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) has unveiled an ambitious investment-driven plan aimed at creating up to 500,000 jobs across the region, backed by a proposed $5 billion structured investment over five years.
The initiative is positioned as a private sector-led push to stimulate economic growth, expand enterprise opportunities, and unlock the region’s broader economic potential beyond oil and gas.
Chairman of NDCCITMA, Amb. Idaere Gogo Ogan, disclosed that the plan is designed to deliver both direct and indirect employment while driving long-term wealth creation. According to him, “the goal is not just to attract capital, but to translate that capital into sustainable jobs, thriving businesses, and inclusive economic growth for the Niger Delta.”
He explained that the chamber is focusing on strategic investment mobilisation that aligns with industrial expansion and innovation across key sectors. “We are deliberately moving towards a model where private sector participation leads development, ensuring efficiency, accountability, and measurable impact,” Ogan said.
The investment drive will be a central focus of the upcoming Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt from May 19 to 21, 2026. The summit, themed “Driving Investment, Innovation, and Industrial Growth in the Niger Delta,” is expected to bring together investors, policymakers, and development partners to accelerate implementation.
Ogan noted that recent engagements with stakeholders across the region have made it clear that the time for planning has passed. “The message from our engagements is clear — the Niger Delta must transition from ambition to implementation,” he stated.
Also speaking, NDCCITMA Secretary and Chairman of the summit’s local organising committee, Dr. Solomon Edebiri, described the initiative as a deliberate effort to reposition the region as a competitive investment destination.
“The Niger Delta has long been recognised for its oil and gas contributions, but its real strength lies in its untapped opportunities across multiple sectors,” Edebiri said. “This investment plan is about unlocking that potential through structured, private sector-driven growth.”
