The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has called on Niger Delta states to establish viable Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to drive industrialisation and position the region as a major trade and investment hub.She made the call recently at the inaugural Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit, held at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
She said the Niger Delta possessed the resources and strategic advantages to emerge as Nigeria’s next major industrial hub, alongside Lagos, but warned that natural wealth alone could not guarantee development.
The WTO chief stressed the need for improved project execution, a stronger maintenance culture, efficient ports, enhanced digital infrastructure and lower trade costs to attract investors and support businesses.
“The situation of the Niger Delta people is far from satisfactory. The region needs to try and do better”, she said, adding that the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) could play a leading role in attracting investors and positioning the region as a trade hub.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said NDCCITMA was helping to advance the commission’s vision of growing businesses in the region through an initial N5 billion fund.
He identified the people, particularly the region’s human resources, as its greatest asset, stressing the need to build their capacity to drive sustainable economic growth.
He advocated greater collaboration among the Niger Delta states and the establishment of a think tank to galvanise ideas and coordinate development efforts.
According to him, global investors require an enabling environment, including investment opportunities and active participation by the people of the region.
He said the states could jointly develop critical infrastructure, including power stations, rail lines and regional roads, to facilitate economic integration and development.
Ogbuku also decried the continued capital flight from the region, saying international companies had benefited from its resources without creating adequate employment opportunities and other economic benefits for the people.
The Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said the commission would continue to collaborate with the Niger Delta state governments and other stakeholders to avoid duplication of projects and efforts.
In his keynote address, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede urged the region’s elite to move beyond lamentation and formulate a development compass.
“We need to move from a rent economy to a regional and productive economy”, he said, stressing that the Niger Delta must use its resources to become an economic powerhouse.
He warned that real transformation would depend on deliberate execution rather than  promises alone.
In a goodwill message, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, said the state had established a $100 million investment fund as a step towards attracting investors.
The Governor, represented by the Director-General of the Delta State Investment Development Agency, Olorogun Lucky Oghene-Umoru, assured investors of a secure business environment, adding that his administration was pursuing economic diversification to reduce dependence on oil revenue.
The President-General of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Ambassador Godknows Igali, said the region was endowed with resources and opportunities capable of transforming its economic fortunes.
The Board Chairman of NDCCITMA, Ambassador Idaere Ogan, said the region must reposition its enterprise, resources and strategic relevance to Nigeria and Africa.

The Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)  has blamed the delay in the payment of pensions to retirees from July 2025 to date on the recent political crisis in the State.

The union also urged the affected retirees to be patient, assuring that something is being done about it.

The NLC State chairman, Comrade Alex Agwuanwon, disclosed this in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt.

He said the delay was not intentional but was caused by the political crisis that engulfed the state, resulting in the declaration of a State of Emergency, last year.

The NLC boss assured that with the resolution of political crisis in the State and the restoration of peace between the executive and legislative arms of government, the issue of payment of pensions to retirees will soon be addressed.

He, therefore, stressed the need for those affected to be patient.

“My appeal to them is that, it is not intentional. The steps are on to address the issues,” he said.

Agwuanwon also told The Tide that the labour movement had earlier  rejected the contributory pension scheme by insisting that civil servants presently in the employment of the government should remain in the old pension scheme.

He said it was against this background that a committee was set up.

According to him, the committee has produced its report which has been submitted to the state government on the issue.

The NLC chairman expressed hope that the report would not only be sent to the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) but also the State House of Assembly with a view to fast-tracking its passage into law.

He said the union made efforts within the period of the State of Emergency to get the scheme amended so that retirees can assess their pension.

“We are not comfortable with the contributory pension scheme, so, asking the civil servants to enroll into the scheme for us is not acceptable. It was totally rejected, so, the old scheme has to run.”

He described the sufferings of retirees, especially during the period of emergency as “a sacrifice we paid for that period.”

“For us, it is very unfortunate, so at that point, there is nothing anybody could have done at this point.

“For us, we made efforts within the period, but the story is that it is a law,” he said.

Giving more insight into the committee’s report, the NLC boss said civil servants, especially those currently in the employment of the state government, will continue to remain in the old scheme.

In his words, “They will continue to run in the current scheme, after retirement they will continue to enjoy their monthly pensions, they will get their gratuities and other benefits, but those that are going to be employed subsequently will be enrolled into the contributory pension scheme,” he said.

He said once the committee report is implemented, those affected will be captured and arrears of their pensions will be paid.

John Bibor

The Cross River State Electrification Agency has commenced a comprehensive assessment of power infrastructure in Bakassi Local Government Area of the state.
Bakassi LGA has been without electricity for more than a decade.
The assessment team, led by the AIG Chief Enene Okon (retd.), inspected power facilities in the 10 wards of the local government to determine the condition of existing infrastructure and identify the interventions required to reconnect communities to the national grid.
During the inspection, the engineers assessed transformers and other power facilities in various communities, identifying some units requiring repairs and others needing complete replacement.
The exercise, according to the team, is expected to provide the technical baseline for the state government’s planned intervention in the area.
Speaking during the inspection, Okon commended the State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, for what he described as the administration’s commitment to the development of Bakassi.
He cited the proposed power restoration, sustained efforts to maintain peace and security, and the planned Bakassi Deep Seaport project as some of the initiatives expected to boost development in the area.
Okon described the assessment as a significant step towards addressing the prolonged electricity crisis in Bakassi, despite what he said was skepticism and opposition from some quarters in the communities.
He also urged residents to maintain their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying continued political alignment will help sustain government attention and development in the area.
The team received a warm reception in several communities, with youths joining the delegation as it moved from one ward to another.
Residents expressed optimism that the assessment would be followed by concrete action to restore electricity in the local government area.
Meanwhile, residents of Ekong/Ekeya community in Ward 12, Calabar South Local Government Area, have appealed to the government to extend a similar intervention to the community, which has been without electricity for about 10 months.
A community representative, Ndabu Okposin David, urged the government to use the current electioneering period to provide the community with a new transformer.
Okposin said the community had contributed significantly to electoral outcomes in the state and deserved government attention.