Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has called on the Niger Delta Development Company (NDDC) to find lasting solutions to the economic challenges affecting the Niger Delta region.
Speaking on Saturday during the 25th anniversary of the NDDC, Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the years of environmental damage caused by oil and gas exploration in the oil-rich area.
She pointed out that neglecting the region’s social and economic well-being has led to frustration and unrest among the people.
“Let me first congratulate the NDDC for the work it has done for the Niger Delta people. But while I am appreciative, I believe there is still much more to be done,” she said.
The NDDC was created in 2000 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to replace the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC). Both agencies were set up to address the cries of underdevelopment and marginalization in the Niger Delta.
Okonjo-Iweala urged the NDDC to focus more on the economic growth of the Niger Delta to bring peace and prosperity to the region.
The Niger Delta remains vital to Nigeria’s economy, contributing most of the country’s oil and gas resources. However, the people continue to face many socio-economic difficulties that have fuelled agitation over the years.