UGELLI/Nigeria: Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) bill into law, describing it as a major step toward accelerating the region’s growth.
In a statement issued by his media adviser, Sunny Areh, Omo-Agege lauded Tinubu’s commitment to equity and fairness in regional development, particularly in addressing concerns that previously equated the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with other zonal development agencies across the country. The SSDC bill, signed into law on March 25, 2025, alongside the South West Development Commission (SWDC) bill, is expected to drive infrastructural and economic advancement in the region.
“I am not surprised that President Tinubu ignored pressures to sideline the SSDC bill. As a leader who prioritizes fairness, his decision underscores his dedication to the development of the Niger Delta,” Omo-Agege stated.
He emphasized that while the NDDC is focused on oil-producing communities across multiple states, the SSDC will ensure that non-oil-producing areas within the South-South are not excluded from the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda. He further noted that with development commissions now established across all geopolitical zones, a healthy competition among them would spur innovation and rapid progress.
“Many may not immediately grasp the significance, but in the coming years, this decision will yield immense benefits as each commission works to outshine the others. This visionary initiative will undoubtedly enhance national unity and regional development,” he added.
Omo-Agege, who played a key role in the passage of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) bill in the 9th Senate, has been instrumental in pushing for the establishment of similar agencies across other regions. Other regional commissions now include the North West Development Commission, the South East Development Commission, and the North Central Development Commission.
