The Atlantic Bell

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding women and girl-child empowerment programmes across the Niger Delta, with renewed emphasis on entrepreneurship, skills acquisition and sustainable livelihood initiatives aimed at promoting economic independence.

Speaking at the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration in Calabar, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the Commission regarded women’s empowerment as a strategic investment in the development of the region and the nation.

Represented by the Assistant Director, Youths, Sports, Culture and Women Affairs, Dr Esther Philip, Ogbuku said the Commission had consistently implemented interventions that enabled women to build sustainable businesses and improve their socio-economic wellbeing.

“Empowering women is synonymous with empowering the nation,” he said, assuring participants that the NDDC would continue to roll out programmes designed to promote wealth creation, self-reliance and entrepreneurship, enabling beneficiaries to support their families and contribute meaningfully to community development.

He noted that the Commission’s initiatives align with its statutory mandate and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, expressing confidence that the International Women’s Day programme would equip participants with practical knowledge and skills needed to enhance their productivity and secure a better future.

Also speaking, the Cross River State Representative on the NDDC Board, Mr Orok Duke, said women and the girl child possess enormous potential to excel in all fields of human endeavour, stressing that they remain indispensable to the development of the Niger Delta.

Represented by his Special Assistant on Administration, Mr Bassey-Ita Duke, he said the Commission remained committed to promoting gender equality and creating opportunities that would enable women to thrive.

According to him, the Board, under the chairmanship of Mr Chiedu Ebie, and the management led by Dr Ogbuku, recognise agriculture as a major catalyst for economic growth, food security and sustainable livelihoods.

He highlighted the Commission’s investments in agriculture, including animal husbandry, fisheries and crop production, as part of efforts to strengthen women’s participation in the sector and improve household incomes.

In a keynote lecture titled “Best Practices for Packaging Certified Products for Export,” a resource person from the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mrs Christiana Ekeng, urged entrepreneurs to ensure that all non-oil products intended for export receive the required certification before shipment.

She explained that certification enhances product credibility and improves access to international markets, while proper packaging remains critical to preserving product quality and meeting export standards.

Ekeng identified the three stages of packaging as primary, secondary and tertiary, explaining that primary packaging protects products from damage, while goods must be appropriately packaged and arranged in cartons before export.

The Consultant to the Ukpai Empowerment Foundation, Dr Boma Nathan, commended the NDDC for sustaining programmes that promote women’s economic empowerment across the Niger Delta.

He said empowering women enables them to discover their purpose, pursue their aspirations and attain their full potential, describing the Commission’s interventions as a significant contribution to inclusive development in the region.

Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has lost his mother, Mrs. Mary Amaechi, who died peacefully on Thursday at the age of 89.

The family announced her passing in a statement issued by the Rotimi Amaechi Media Office, describing the late matriarch as a devout Christian, respected community leader and unifying figure whose life was defined by faith, compassion and selfless service.

According to the statement, Mrs. Amaechi was a pillar of strength who kept her family united through love, peace and mutual understanding.

“Late Mrs. Mary Amaechi was a cherished matriarch who held her family together in love, peace and unity. She was a community women’s leader and Christian leader whose beliefs and faith in God were firm and resolute,” the statement said.

The family further described her as a woman widely admired within and beyond her community for her warmth, kindness and unwavering support for others.

It noted that her legacy of service, humility and dedication to humanity would remain a source of inspiration to all who knew her.

Amaechi and members of his family also expressed appreciation for the outpouring of sympathy and prayers received following her death.

“Rt. Hon. Amaechi and the entire family are profoundly grateful for the outpouring of condolences and love already being shown to them during this difficult time.

“Details regarding funeral arrangements will be shared with the public in due course. The family appreciates the continued thoughts and prayers from friends, supporters and well-wishers,” the statement added.

The Paramount Ruler of Obunagha community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, HRH Yeseibo Peremobowei, has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently intervene to save a multi-billion-naira lubricant and chemicals blending plant from being destroyed by severe coastal erosion.

The monarch warned that the worsening erosion, which has already swallowed a major section of the Eraskon Lubricant/Chemicals Blending Plant, is threatening a project expected to create more than 1,200 jobs and boost Nigeria’s local manufacturing capacity.

Speaking during an inspection of the devastated facility alongside the member representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Oboku Oforji, and Chairman of Erasko Group, Maxwell Oko, the traditional ruler lamented that the community’s hopes of benefiting from the project had been dashed by the environmental disaster.

He said residents had welcomed the siting of the industrial plant because of its immense economic prospects, but expressed sadness that the investment was now on the brink of collapse.
“We were very happy when this gigantic project was brought to our community because of the enormous benefits it would bring to our people,” the monarch said.

“But today, we are deeply saddened because erosion has become a serious threat. A massive factory building has already been washed into the river, and the erosion is fast approaching the two storage tanks. Both the Federal and Bayelsa State governments must act urgently to save this laudable investment.”

He urged the authorities to engage erosion control experts to halt the advancing shoreline before the remaining infrastructure is destroyed.

The project, initiated in 2022, was conceived to deepen Nigeria’s industrial base, strengthen local content, reduce dependence on imported lubricants and packaging materials, and create 200 direct jobs alongside more than 1,000 indirect employment opportunities across logistics, engineering, transportation, maintenance, security, packaging and raw material supply.

When completed, the facility is expected to produce up to 128,000 litres of lubricants and industrial chemicals daily, including engine oils, hydraulic oils, brake fluids, radiator coolants, gear oils, marine lubricants and synthetic lubricants.

During the inspection, Oforji described the level of destruction as alarming, noting that a significant portion of the project site had already been claimed by erosion, forcing the company to dismantle completed structures.

He said the project represented a major investment that would generate employment, improve security and increase revenue for both the Federal and Bayelsa State governments.

Commending Erasko Group for embarking on what he described as a capital-intensive indigenous investment, the lawmaker pledged to raise the matter before the House of Representatives.

According to him, he would sponsor a motion calling on the Federal Government to release ecological funds for immediate intervention to protect the facility.

“This project is too strategic to be abandoned. The Federal Government and the Bayelsa State Government must treat this as a matter of urgent public importance because protecting this investment means protecting jobs, revenue and the future of Bayelsa,” Oforji said.

He assured the company that he would press for urgent parliamentary action to secure federal intervention and preserve the investment from further destruction.

Chairman of Erasko Group, Maxwell Oko, disclosed that the project, located on a 45-hectare site, had attained about 90 per cent completion and was scheduled for commissioning in 2022 before the erosion crisis halted construction.

He revealed that a factory building that had reached about 85 per cent completion was completely washed away by the advancing river, while the twin two-million-litre storage tanks are now under imminent threat.

Oko also lamented that more than 30 containers of processing equipment remain uninstalled because erosion destroyed the steel sheet piles supporting the project.

He estimated that the delay had denied the company over ₦500 billion in projected revenue that would have accrued if the plant had commenced operations as planned.

“As you can see, the erosion destroyed our protective structures, swept away our factory building and has continued to encroach on the facility. We had no choice but to dismantle part of the remaining structure to prevent further losses,” he said.

The Eraskon Lubricant/Chemicals Blending Plant is regarded as one of the largest indigenous lubricant manufacturing projects in the Niger Delta and was expected to significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products while expanding local industrial production.

Fourteen young engineers and geologists have completed a specialised human capital development programme organised by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Heritage Energy Operational Services (HEOS) and DBN Energies, in a move aimed at strengthening indigenous technical capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The beneficiaries graduated on Wednesday in Port Harcourt after successfully completing the 12-month Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) training programme on the installation and commissioning of the Ariel Gas Lift Compressor Unit.

The intensive programme exposed the participants to critical competencies, including engineering design, procurement and supply chain management, project planning, safety engineering, contract management, mechanical maintenance, crane operations, occupational health and safety, information and communication technology, entrepreneurship, and Nigerian Content compliance.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the General Manager, Human Capital Development, NCDMB, Ms Alexis Emelle, described the areas covered in the programme as essential skills required not only in the oil and gas sector but across other productive industries.

She said the structured hands-on training had equipped the graduands with practical industry experience, sound technical knowledge and problem-solving abilities needed to thrive in a competitive work environment.

According to her, the initiative underscores the Board’s unwavering commitment to developing indigenous capacity in line with the Nigerian Content 10-Year Strategic Roadmap.

Emelle commended Heritage Energy Operational Services for fulfilling its Human Capital Development obligations and praised DBN Energies for delivering what she described as a high-quality training programme.

She urged the graduates to distinguish themselves through competence, integrity, professionalism and the value they create, stressing that these qualities would remain their greatest assets in the industry.

The NCDMB official also acknowledged the contributions of the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) and other stakeholders whose collaboration ensured the successful execution of the programme.

Also speaking, a representative of DBN Energies, Mr Matthew Eseragbo, applauded the trainees for their commitment throughout the programme, noting that the quality of knowledge they acquired was reflected in their project review presentations, which he described as exceptional.

Responding on behalf of the graduands, Mr Douglas Obamata expressed appreciation to NCDMB, HEOS, DBN Energies and Dexterious Applied Training Institute for the opportunity to participate in the year-long capacity-building programme.

He pledged that the beneficiaries would deploy the knowledge and technical skills acquired to make meaningful contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and national development.

“We will use all the skills we have learnt to make a difference in our world,” Obamata said, while thanking the organisers and trainers for the quality instruction and mentorship provided throughout the programme.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has commenced the process of striking off 100,000 companies from its register over their failure to file annual returns and comply with other statutory obligations as required under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.

The exercise, designated Batch 6, is being carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section 692 (3) and (4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, the Commission said in a public notice issued on Wednesday.

According to the CAC, the affected companies have persistently failed to file outstanding annual returns and other mandatory statutory documents, prompting the regulatory action.
The Commission stated that the full list of the affected companies has been published on its official website for public access.

The notice read in part: “This is to notify the general public and esteemed customers that the Corporate Affairs Commission has commenced another round of striking off names of companies from the Register pursuant to the provisions of Section 692 (3) and (4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020.”

It added that the affected companies have a 90-day window from the date of the notice to regularise their records by filing all outstanding annual returns, including information on Persons with Significant Control (PSC), also known as beneficial ownership information.

The Commission further directed companies that comply within the stipulated period to forward evidence of compliance to its dedicated email address, struckoffcompanies@cac.gov.ng, to facilitate the review of their status.

The CAC warned that companies that fail to regularise their records within the prescribed period risk being removed from the register in line with the provisions of the law.

Reaffirming its commitment to efficient service delivery, the Commission said it would continue to provide prompt and customer-focused services while ensuring strict compliance with corporate regulatory requirements.

The latest exercise is part of the CAC’s ongoing efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s corporate register by removing inactive and non-compliant entities, thereby promoting transparency and strengthening confidence in the country’s corporate governance framework.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday launched the $500 million Niger Delta Agricultural Investment Fund, describing it as a strategic intervention to restore agriculture as a pillar of Nigeria’s economy, strengthen food security and reposition the Niger Delta as a leading food production hub.

The fund was unveiled at the Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Summit in Abuja, jointly organised by the Office of the Vice President and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Speaking at the summit, Shettima said the initiative would mobilise private and public investments across the agricultural value chain, transforming the oil-rich Niger Delta into a thriving centre for agricultural production.
According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President said Nigeria’s economic prosperity before the discovery of crude oil was built on agriculture, stressing that no nation could guarantee lasting prosperity without securing its food supply.

“Agriculture is not only the foundation of civilisation but also the first guarantee of political stability. Before a people raise cities, they must learn to feed them, and before a state earns the loyalty of its citizens, it must secure their daily bread,” Shettima said.

He noted that the investment fund would operate as a commercially driven, returns-oriented financing vehicle targeting critical agricultural value chains, including aquaculture, palm oil, cassava, cocoa, rice, horticulture, livestock and marine resources.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s agricultural heritage, Shettima recalled that the groundnut pyramids of the North, cocoa plantations of the West and palm produce from the East and the Niger Delta financed the country’s early development, including the construction of schools, hospitals and other key public institutions.
He, however, lamented that the discovery of oil shifted national attention away from agriculture, fostering dependence on food imports instead of local production.

“The Niger Delta has instead chosen to return to an identity older than crude itself, for the palm oil of these creeks fuelled the commerce of continents long before the first barrel was drilled. It has chosen to transform this region, feed the nation and attract the world,” he said.

The Vice President disclosed that the newly inaugurated Niger Delta Agricultural Development and Investment Council, which he chairs, would provide policy direction for the initiative, while the NDDC would serve as its secretariat.

Shettima said President Bola Tinubu had placed food security at the heart of his administration’s economic agenda from the outset, recalling the declaration of a state of emergency on food security in July 2023 to boost agricultural production, stabilise food markets and improve access to affordable food.

He highlighted several interventions under the administration, including the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, which aims to deploy 10,000 tractors over five years, the establishment of local tractor assembly plants, the John Deere Tractorisation Programme, the Greener Hope Project and the Green Imperative Programme.

According to him, the interventions are beginning to yield positive results, with the prices of several staple food items dropping significantly, some by as much as 50 per cent.
Calling for greater collaboration, Shettima urged investors, development partners and state governments to seize the opportunities presented by the fund.

“The fund is launched, the commitments are aligned, the council is constituted, and the pipeline awaits your conviction,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, described agriculture as central to the Tinubu administration’s economic transformation agenda because of its potential to create jobs, stimulate investment and improve livelihoods.

He said the National Regional Development Policy recognised the comparative advantages of Nigeria’s regions and called for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners and the private sector to unlock the country’s vast agricultural potential.
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman of Origin Group, Prince Samuel Joseph, said the NDDC had been repositioned under the Tinubu administration to drive economic transformation in the Niger Delta.

He commended the Federal Government’s commitment to initiatives aimed at unlocking the region’s economic potential and improving the livelihoods of its people.

The Managing Director of the NDDC described the summit as the beginning of a long-term partnership to unlock the Niger Delta’s vast agricultural resources through strategic investments, innovation and collaboration.
He urged stakeholders to forge enduring partnerships capable of mobilising investment, creating jobs, strengthening food security and expanding economic opportunities across the region.

Also speaking, Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, said the Niger Delta could no longer afford to remain a region of untapped potential.

According to him, the region’s young population deserves greater access to finance, technology, infrastructure and markets, while host communities must benefit from inclusive, sustainable and measurable development initiatives.