By Emmanuel Thomas l Friday, Oct 16, 2026
PORT HARCOURT — Imo State Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru, PhD, has called for a united front among state governments, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), local communities, and development partners to accelerate sustainable development across the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the 2026 NDDC Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Conference, Lady Ekomaru emphasized that real transformation in the region can only be achieved through strategic collaboration, joint planning, and resource pooling.
She stressed the critical need to involve local government authorities and grassroots communities in project execution to avoid duplication of efforts and maximize the impact of intervention projects.
”Synergy means we plan together, we fund together, and we build together,” Lady Ekomaru stated, outlining a collaborative blueprint designed to eliminate wasteful spending and ensure development projects directly address the pressing needs of host communities.
The Niger Delta region—comprising nine oil-producing states including Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Ondo, and Rivers—has historically faced environmental degradation, infrastructure deficits, and economic challenges despite its immense natural resource wealth.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was established in 2000 by the Federal Government to facilitate the rapid, even, and sustainable development of the region into an economically prosperous and ecologically safe zone.
Over the years, stakeholders have repeatedly highlighted overlapping projects and poor inter-agency coordination as major hurdles to regional progress.
The annual Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Conference brings together public and private sector leaders, regional representatives, and international development agencies to harmonize development strategies, foster accountability, and streamline infrastructure investments under the NDDC’s ongoing transformation agenda.
