By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu, has welcomed the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, and his management team to the Exco Chambers in Calabar.
During the meeting with the excos, the Governor had a discussion centered on how best to deepen collaboration between Cross River State and the NDDC in fast tracking infrastructure and social development projects across the state.
Otu emphasized that every intervention counts, adding that the state turns every kobo whether from federal allocations or agencies like the NDDC into tangible projects that touch lives.
He lauded the Commission’s renewed spirit of partnership, especially their willingness to revisit stalled projects while calling for immediate attention to other neglected initiatives, including the youth development center in Akpabuyo LGA and support for the over 54,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently in their care.
Governor Otu noted that Cross River State is part of the Niger Delta and must be intentionally included in planning and execution, noting that the state has remained peaceful, law-abiding, and cooperative and should not be rewarded with exclusion.
In remarks, NDDC MD/CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized that the Commission is now focused on building sustainable institutions, improving accountability, and completing legacy projects.
He commended Cross River’s cooperative stance and highlighted ongoing partnerships with private and public institutions such as NLNG and NNPC in delivering infrastructure, including the world-class hospital project underway in Ikom.
Dr. Ogbuku used the occasion to officially invite Governor Otu and the people of Cross River to the Commission’s upcoming 25th anniversary celebration, scheduled for July 6–12, 2025, in Abuja. The grand finale, billed for July 12, according to the NDDC boss, will feature a public lecture by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expected as Special Guest of Honour and former President Goodluck Jonathan as Guest of Honour.
Both parties agreed to immediately deepen technical engagement, with Governor Otu directing relevant state officials to remain in close touch with NDDC’s Executive Director of Projects (EDP) to finalize priority interventions in Cross River.