Akpabio Charges SSDC to Champion Regional Development, Renewed Hope
By Ekanem ASUQUO
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has urged the board and management of the South South Development Commission (SSDC) to embark on transformative projects that will uplift the living standards of citizens and advance the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Akpabio gave the charge in Abuja when members of the SSDC board paid him a courtesy visit. He said the newly established Commission has a crucial mandate to drive socio-economic development across the six states of the South South region.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Anietie Ekong, the Senate President emphasized that the Commission must see its assignment as a call to service and innovation.
“The ball is now in your court to add value to the South South region through this development Commission. You have a lot of responsibilities to develop the region. I want you to know that it is not a bonanza. It is a call to service, a call to put on your thinking cap to add value to the economy of the nation and to the renewed hope agenda of the President who set up this Commission,” Akpabio said.
He commended President Tinubu for establishing the SSDC, describing it as a worthy recognition of the South South region’s vital contributions to Nigeria’s economy. “The Niger Delta has been good to Nigeria. We have kept the economy of the nation going, and giving us this opportunity to further develop our resources shows that Nigeria also cares about us,” he added.
Akpabio also praised members of the National Assembly for passing the SSDC bill into law despite initial concerns about overlapping functions with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He explained that the SSDC’s mandate extends beyond oil-producing areas to cover every part of the South South region.
The Senate President pledged the National Assembly’s full support to ensure the Commission receives adequate funding to execute landmark projects that will benefit the people. “We shall continue to support you to fully take off and execute big projects that we shall come and commission. You can count on me, my office and my colleagues. We will support you to succeed,” he assured.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the SSDC board, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the Senate President and the National Assembly for their roles in establishing the Commission. He pledged that the SSDC under his leadership would uphold transparency, accountability and commitment to its developmental goals.
“Under my leadership as Chairman, I assure you that we shall keep faith in executing the core mandate of this Commission. We will work closely with the Senate and other stakeholders. We will avoid the mistakes of the past and ensure our people feel the impact of governance,” Nwuche stated.
Also speaking, the pioneer Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Ms. Usoro Akpabio, lauded the visionary leadership of Senator Akpabio and the Senate in bringing the SSDC to life. She assured that the Commission would pursue inclusive growth through human capital development and infrastructural renewal across the region.
“This Commission will align with other sister development agencies and work with the states while carrying out our independent mandate. Our vision covers human capital development and infrastructural renewal. We will serve as a role model for other development agencies in Nigeria by promoting sustainable growth and unlocking the potentials of the South South region,” she affirmed.
