The Chairman of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), Chibudom Nwuche, has said that the commission will prioritise railways and road transportation, industries, agriculture, telecommunication, urban and housing developments as part of its mandate to accelerate the country’s development.

Nwuche made the statement at the inaugural board meeting of the SSDC, held in Abuja on Thursday.

Recall that the commission was inaugurated on August 28, 2025, by the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Ahmadu, after President Bola Tinubu signed the South-South Development Commission Bill into law in late March 2025, to tackle economic, social and environmental challenges in the south-southern states- Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers State.

In his address, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives recalled his role in the passage of the Niger Delta Development Commission Act in the fourth assembly, adding that the signing of the SSDC Act was a show of good faith to bring the needed development to the Niger Delta region.

“With the very bold move of Mr. President in passing the development commissions into law, it will allow room for accelerated development of the country as a whole.

“By the virtue of Section 8 of the SSDC Act, the Commission has been given a clear, bold and urgent charge which includes identification of underlying causes of underdevelopment in the region, and to formulate practical solutions and implement sustainable development projects and programmes for the benefit of the region.

“We are mandated to look at the overall development of the South-South region, including railways and road transportation, industries, agriculture, telecommunications, electricity, urban and housing development, etc. We shall meticulously address these priority areas by strategically deploying resources to ensure steady and sustainable progress.

“We will equally prioritise the empowerment of our youth and women, who have disproportionately endured the adverse effects of oil production, particularly amid the region’s unprecedented unemployment levels caused by our region being the oil-bearing part of our country,” he said.

Nwuche also promised to work with the state governors and other relevant stakeholders, including the National Assembly, to achieve the commission’s mandate. He said the SSDC will engage in constant consultation with other development organizations like the NDDC, Federal Government agencies, and state government agencies.

“We will work cooperatively and harmoniously to avoid duplication of projects and efforts. We all know that fulfilling the above mandate will not be a matter of chance but will be as a result of the choices we make, which must be deliberate, bold and sometimes difficult,” the Chairman stated.

On her part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SSDC, Usoro Akpabio, described the South-South as a region “ready for the world,” adding that through all of its projects, the commission will bring the people closer to prosperity.”

She added, “Through deliberate investment, sound policy engagement and meaningful partnerships, we will be building the economic backbone of our region. We will ensure that our cities, our towns and rural communities are not left behind, but positioned to lead. Infrastructure remains central to this transformation.

“Roads, ports, energy, and rural connectivity are no longer luxuries, but they are critical assets that will unlock opportunities, enhance trade and attract investment. Every bridge we build, every highway we expand, every fibre-optic line we lay, will bring our people closer to prosperity. We are a region ready for the world. Our journey is far from over, and our commitment, the entire South-South Development Commission, is deepened, and we are accelerating for progress.” (The PUNCH)