NDDC reaffirms support for Navy security agencies in Niger Delta
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies operating in the Niger Delta as part of broader efforts to sustain peace, protect critical national assets and accelerate economic development in the region. The assurance came during a courtesy visit by senior naval officers to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, where the Managing Director highlighted the inseparable link between security and regional development. 
Speaking to visiting officers led by the Flag Officer Commanding, Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Suleiman Ibrahim, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said that the commission’s support for security agencies is an essential pillar for ensuring lasting peace and enabling socio-economic progress across the oil-producing states. He stressed that the NDDC reaffirms support for Navy, security agencies in Niger Delta not merely as a slogan, but as a practical commitment tied to the strategic importance the region holds for national prosperity. 
“Security and development are intertwined,” Dr. Ogbuku told guests. “Without security, communities cannot develop, and when communities are underdeveloped, insecurity is bound to thrive.” His comments reflected a long-standing position within the commission that lasting peace is a prerequisite for meaningful investment, trade and improved living standards in the Niger Delta. 
Security as a Foundation for Development
The NDDC boss’s remarks came as part of discussions about ongoing collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other security formations in the region. He described the NDDC reaffirms support for Navy, security agencies in Niger Delta as aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to sustain a peaceful environment that underpins the Renewed Hope Agenda and the nation’s economic goals. 
Ogbuku explained that the commission’s interventions over the years go beyond infrastructure and socio-economic projects; they also include strategic support to security agencies to ensure waterways, oil installations, road corridors and communities remain protected from criminal activities that have historically hampered progress. Some of the interventions he referenced include infrastructure support for naval installations, solar street lighting in key corridors, inverter installations and construction projects that benefit both military personnel and local communities. 
Rear Admiral Ibrahim, who led the delegation, praised the NDDC for its “visible and impactful” work across the Niger Delta, saying the commission’s projects are clear evidence of development in the region and a boost to security. He noted that the Navy — among other agencies — has been working proactively under initiatives such as Operation Sentinel, which was launched to support crude oil exploration, production and transportation while safeguarding economic assets in the maritime domain. Ibrahim reiterated that the NDDC reaffirms support for Navy, security agencies in Niger Delta helps deepen trust and strengthen inter-agency cooperation. 
https://ogelenews.ng/nddc-support-navy-security-agencies-niger-delta
Why This Matters
The Niger Delta is among Nigeria’s most strategically important regions, producing the bulk of the nation’s crude oil and serving as a central hub for maritime commerce and offshore energy operations. But its natural wealth has also made it a flashpoint for insecurity, including piracy, illegal bunkering, kidnapping and pipeline sabotage. Without consistent security, federal investment and community development initiatives struggle to gain traction. 
Dr. Ogbuku noted that the NDDC’s support for security agencies is not a one-off gesture but part of a sustained strategy to ensure that peace and development reinforce each other. “What we have done so far is only a prelude to what is to come,” he said, pledging that the Commission would continue to open lines of communication and undertake regular field visits to better understand the challenges faced by security personnel on the ground. 
Building Confidence and Economic Stability
In reaffirming its support, the commission hopes to build confidence among investors and operators that the Niger Delta is safe for business. Sustained collaboration between development bodies like NDDC and security agencies underpins efforts to improve the pace of crude oil output, boost foreign investment and catalyse job creation for a growing youth population. Given plans by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to increase oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027, security stability is increasingly seen as central to these ambitions. 
The Navy, for its part, has acknowledged that support from development partners like the NDDC enhances its operational reach and effectiveness. Senior naval officers have underscored that projects such as new infrastructure facilities, equipment support and naval base improvements help the force execute its mandates more efficiently, reducing the breeding ground for maritime crime. 
In addition to support for naval operations, the NDDC’s renewed commitments reflect a broader pattern of collaborative intervention in the Niger Delta. Recent unveiling of state-of-the-art naval bases, forward operating bases, jetties, gunboats and accommodation blocks funded by the Commission have been welcomed by both security agencies and community leaders as examples of how development and security can work hand-in-hand. 
A Broader Security Strategy
Experts argue that the NDDC reaffirms support for Navy, security agencies in Niger Delta underscores the understanding that Nigeria’s maritime and coastal security architecture must be flexible, well-resourced and anchored in partnership. While the Navy remains front and centre of maritime patrols and enforcement, other formations, including the Joint Task Force and the Nigerian Army’s 6th Amphibious Division, also play important roles in securing land-to-sea supply routes across the region. 
Moreover, the commission’s stance aligns with previous positions where NDDC leadership has highlighted security as essential to economic futures such as the blue economy, emphasizing that peace at sea and on shore is a prerequisite to sustainable fishing, aquaculture, transportation and coastal enterprise development. 
As the region continues to navigate challenges and opportunities, the NDDC’s reaffirmation serves as a reminder that security and development are two sides of the same coin. By bolstering the capabilities of naval forces and other security units while supporting community development, the Commission seeks to create an environment where peace is sustainable and progress is inclusive.
https://guardian.ng/news/nddc-reaffirms-support-for-navy-security-agencies-in-niger-delta
NDDC reaffirms support for Navy security agencies in Niger Delta
