Ibas Urges Dev Partners To Prioritize Innovation Hubs, Industrial Clusters In N’Delta 

The Administrator of Rivers State, His Excellency Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has called on development partners to expand their interventions in the Niger Delta by prioritizing innovation hubs, industrial clusters, digital centers, and skills acquisition programmes alongside physical infrastructure.

The Administrator made the appeal last Friday while receiving the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Minister was accompanied by the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, as well as senior officials from the ministry and NDDC board members.

Ibas emphasized the need for a holistic approach to development in the Niger Delta, stating that meaningful progress must go beyond roads and bridges to include economic empowerment and human capital development.

“Infrastructure remains a major need, but so is social investment, human capital development, and economic inclusion. A bridge that doesn’t lead to opportunities is a bridge half built,” the Administrator declared.

He stressed that the Niger Delta, endowed with vast natural and human resources, must adopt development models that stimulate regional and national economic growth.

“We must focus on innovation hubs, industrial clusters, agro-processing zones, digital infrastructure, skill acquisition centers, and youth enterprise development programs,” Ibas urged.

The Administrator commended the NDDC for its longstanding collaboration with the State, citing key projects such as the ongoing Kaa-Taaba Bridge in Ogoniland, and the Borikiri Ring Road in Okrika.

He described these initiatives as “economic arteries” that connect communities and transform lives.

Ibas also described the Minister’s visit as a positive step toward aligning federal and state development goals.

He called for deeper collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, the NDDC, the newly established South-South Commission, and the Rivers State Government.

“We must remove bottlenecks, identify real needs, and ensure impact is felt where it matters most,” he concluded.

In his remarks, Engr. Momoh explained that his visit was part of a nationwide assessment tour to evaluate ongoing and abandoned NDDC projects, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to complete all such initiatives in the region.

The Minister lauded Ibas for fostering peace and stability in Rivers State, which he noted has attracted investments and revitalized commercial activities.

The meeting reinforced the commitment of both federal and state stakeholders to accelerate sustainable development in the Niger Delta through infrastructure, innovation, and economic empowerment.