WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged Niger Delta states to establish viable economic zones, modernise infrastructure and coordinate investments to turn the region into an industrial hub.
Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged the nine Niger Delta states to develop functional Special Economic Zones and infrastructure capable of turning the region into a major industrial and trading centre. Okonjo-Iweala said the region possessed the natural resources, human capital and strategic location required to become an economic powerhouse alongside Lagos. She warned, however, that those advantages would not automatically produce sustainable development. She spoke at the inaugural Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit, organised by the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The WTO chief called for deliberate measures to reduce the cost of doing business, improve the execution and maintenance of projects, modernise ports and strengthen digital infrastructure across the region. “The situation of the Niger Delta people is far from satisfactory. The region needs to try and do better,” Okonjo-Iweala said. She identified the regional chamber of commerce as a potential driver of investment and urged it to help position the Niger Delta as a competitive trade hub. “We have a few things going on for us as a region. NDCCITMA can take the lead and attract investors. The region can position itself to become a trade hub because our region is endowed,” she said.
Her call came as participants at the summit advocated a coordinated economic programme that would reduce the Niger Delta’s dependence on oil and attract investment into other sectors. Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, announced that the commission was working with NDCCITMA to establish an initial N5 billion fund to support businesses operating within the region.
Ogbuku described the people of the Niger Delta, particularly their skills and capabilities, as its most valuable resource. He said investment in human capital would be central to achieving sustained economic growth. He also called for stronger cooperation among the nine states and proposed the establishment of a regional think tank to formulate and coordinate ideas for industrial development.
According to him, attracting investors would require a supportive business environment and the participation of residents in the region’s economic programmes. Ogbuku said the states could combine their resources to develop power plants, railways and regional roads. Such joint infrastructure projects, he argued, would improve economic integration and lower operating costs for businesses.
The NDDC managing director also raised concerns about capital leaving the Niger Delta while international companies continued to extract its resources without providing corresponding levels of employment and economic opportunity. Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board Chiedu Ebie said the commission would maintain its collaboration with the state governments and other stakeholders. He said improved coordination would help prevent the duplication of projects and ensure that development initiatives across the region were better aligned.
The summit’s keynote speaker, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, asked political and business leaders in the region to move beyond repeated complaints and agree on a clear direction for development. “We need to move from a rent economy to a regional and productive economy,” he said. Aig-Imoukhuede maintained that the Niger Delta could use its resources to become an economic powerhouse in Africa but said achieving that goal would require consistent execution rather than promises.
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said his administration had established a $100 million investment fund as part of its efforts to attract investors. The governor, who was represented by the Director-General of the Delta State Investment Development Agency, Lucky Oghene-Umoru, assured prospective investors that the state would provide a secure operating environment. He said the administration was also pursuing economic diversification to reduce Delta State’s dependence on revenue from oil.
President-General of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Godknows Igali, said the Niger Delta had enough resources and opportunities to change its economic circumstances. Chairman of NDCCITMA, Idaere Ogan, said the summit was established to translate discussions about regional development into identifiable investment opportunities. Ogan called on the nine governors and chambers of commerce operating across the Niger Delta to align their priorities and formulate a common economic agenda.
“This is not a ceremonial gathering. It is a structured investment platform designed to mobilise capital, accelerate enterprise growth, and align regional development efforts,” he said. He added that no single state or organisation could independently unlock the Niger Delta’s full economic potential.