The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting agriculture as a key driver of economic growth and food security in the Niger Delta region. He spoke during a two-day strategic retreat tagged “Niger Delta Critical Stakeholders’ Agenda Setting on Unlocking Agricultural Potential of the Niger Delta Region,” held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Dr Ogbuku stated that agriculture remains the most sustainable pathway to achieving economic development, peace, and food security in the region. According to him, “This retreat is aimed at rubbing minds as a people to ensure that there is food security in the Niger Delta so that we can build an agricultural hub that can feed this nation. We have the potential and comparative advantage in terms of aquaculture. This is the time to make agriculture a cardinal focus of the Renewed Hope Agenda. We must leave a lasting legacy for generations.”
He noted that before the advent of crude oil exploration, the people of the Niger Delta were predominantly farmers, adding that a return to agriculture offers a more sustainable and inclusive future for the region’s economy. Ogbuku said, “It is only through agriculture that we can create employment. With agriculture, we can guarantee food export. The NDDC and other partners should come together and see how we can invest in agriculture. We have to take advantage of our blue economy. Let us grow back our staples that have disappeared, such as bananas and cocoyam. Let us, in this retreat, develop a workable framework. For us in the NDDC, we are committed to making history.”
The NDDC Chief Executive also revealed that the Commission is in talks with the Origin Group to establish a regional food hub in the Niger Delta. The proposed partnership aims to integrate agricultural value chains and promote large-scale food processing and export, boosting agribusiness investment in the region.
Speaking at the event, the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai, described the retreat as a “call to action,” urging stakeholders to take deliberate steps to drive agricultural transformation across the Niger Delta. He said, “Today’s gathering is not just another meeting; it is a call to action. Agriculture remains our surest path to inclusive growth, job creation, and food security in the Niger Delta. With vast arable land, rich waterways, and a resilient population, our region has the resources to become Nigeria’s next powerhouse in agricultural productivity.”
Dr Antai stressed that the retreat provided a unique platform to harmonise the efforts of state governments, private investors, research institutions, and youth groups in developing a coordinated agricultural transformation plan. He added that strengthening the agricultural sector would help create sustainable jobs, attract investment, and ensure food sufficiency.
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Offiong Offor, also highlighted her state’s comparative advantage in palm crops and oil production. She said that the state government was actively encouraging youth participation in agriculture through various training and empowerment programmes designed to boost productivity and self-reliance.
Similarly, the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Tubokiye Sese, reaffirmed his government’s commitment to ensuring food security. He explained that the state supports farmers with seedlings, modern farming tools, and free land-clearing services to enhance productivity and ensure access to safe, sufficient food for citizens.
In her remarks, the NDDC Director of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Winifred Madume, restated the Commission’s dedication to conceptualising and implementing sustainable agricultural and fisheries development projects across the Niger Delta. She said these initiatives aim to promote job creation, food security, and income generation among farmers and fisherfolk. Dr Madume also stressed the need for collaboration among agricultural stakeholders to build farmers’ capacity, promote food sufficiency, and reduce youth restiveness across the region.