The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reiterated its unwavering commitment to sustained collaboration with security agencies across the Niger Delta region, emphasising that lasting peace and security remain the essential foundation for accelerated development, economic prosperity, and national stability. The Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, gave this assurance on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 during a high-level courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt by the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), South-South, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo, who was accompanied by a delegation of senior officers from various sister security agencies.
Dr Ogbuku described the visit as both timely and symbolic, underscoring the critical interdependence between security and development in the oil-rich region. “Without security, there will be no development. Our roles are intertwined, and we are all working towards the mandate of Mr President,” he stated. “No matter what we have done so far, we are not there yet until development reaches every doorstep in the Niger Delta region.” The NDDC boss highlighted the strategic importance of the Niger Delta as the economic heartbeat of Nigeria, noting that any disruption to peace in the region would have severe repercussions for the national economy. “The Niger Delta is the economic nerve of this nation. If the region is destabilised, it will affect the entire country’s economy. That is why we will not allow that to happen,” he said. “Nigeria is prosperous today because there is peace in the Niger Delta, and this is largely due to the efforts of the security agencies.”
Dr Ogbuku assured Rear Admiral Oladipo of the Commission’s readiness to deepen its support for security operations, pointing to several concrete interventions already executed by the NDDC. These include:
- Financial and logistical support for the 16 Brigade in Bayelsa State.
- Commencement of construction of a major army base project in Warri, Delta State.
- Donation of a naval base jetty, gunboats, and houseboats to the Nigerian Navy in Ayakoro and Ayama communities in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“We will continue to do more for the security agencies in the interest of peace and development in the Niger Delta,” he added.
The Managing Director further stressed that sustained peace would unlock vast economic opportunities, attract foreign direct investment, stimulate industrial growth, and create meaningful employment for the region’s large youth population. He described job creation as one of the most effective pathways to long-term stability and conflict prevention.
In his remarks, Rear Admiral Olugbenga Oladipo explained that the visit was primarily to formally notify the NDDC of his recent assumption of duty as Commander of Operation Delta Safe and to reinforce the existing partnership between the task force and the Commission. He reaffirmed the JTF’s core mandate: to safeguard the Niger Delta, protect critical oil and gas infrastructure, and create a secure environment for legitimate economic activities that generate national revenue.
“Our job is to protect the Niger Delta, and we need your support. We are also here to support you,” the JTF Commander said. He highlighted the success of security operations during the recent Christmas and New Year period, stating: “During the Christmas season, we ensured that the Niger Delta was safe. Today, the Niger Delta is one of the safest regions in the country. Companies are returning, workers are safe, and economic activities are picking up.”
Rear Admiral Oladipo emphasised the unique structure of Operation Delta Safe, which integrates personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and other paramilitary agencies, providing comprehensive coverage across land, sea, and air domains. He called for continued collaboration with the NDDC to boost crude oil production, sustain peace, and enhance the positive global perception of the Niger Delta, in full alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The meeting was also attended by the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Ifedayo Abegunde, and other senior members of the NDDC management team. The renewed commitment expressed during the visit reflects the growing recognition among stakeholders that development and security in the Niger Delta are mutually reinforcing. Persistent threats such as pipeline vandalism, illegal oil bunkering, kidnapping, and cult-related violence have historically undermined investor confidence and delayed major projects. However, recent improvements in security—attributed to coordinated operations by the JTF and support from institutions like the NDDC—have contributed to increased oil output, return of oil companies to some previously abandoned fields, and gradual resumption of economic activities.
Observers view the engagement as a positive step toward institutionalising synergy between development agencies and security outfits in the region. The NDDC has consistently positioned itself as a key partner in peace-building by investing in youth empowerment programmes, skills acquisition centres, infrastructure projects, and direct support to security formations.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections and seeks to sustain economic recovery, stakeholders agree that maintaining peace in the Niger Delta remains non-negotiable. The collaboration between the NDDC and Operation Delta Safe is expected to continue yielding dividends in the form of safer communities, higher oil production, increased revenue to the federation account, and broader socio-economic progress for the people of the region.
