Senate President Charges SSDC Leadership on Unity & Rapid Development

By Barth Ikiebe

In continuation of its strategic engagements with key national institutions, the leadership of the South South Development Commission paid a high-level courtesy visit to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in Abuja.

The delegation was led by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Ms Usoro Akpabio, and included the Executive Director of Commercial and Environmental Development, Hon. Joseph Ugheoke, alongside other principal directors of the Commission.

Also in attendance were prominent lawmakers from the South-South region, including Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State), Senator Joseph Ikpea (Edo Central), and Senator Neda Imasuen (Edo South), who joined in the deliberations on regional development priorities.

At the meeting, Hon. Joseph Ugheoke, emerged as a key voice articulating the Commission’s development vision, emphasizing that the SSDC is determined to foster a new era of unity, accountability, and result-driven action across the region.

He stated that the Commission’s mandate goes beyond mere project execution — it aims to redefine the economic and environmental landscape of the South-South.

“Our region has for decades borne the brunt of environmental degradation and economic imbalance,” Ugheoke noted.

Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and with the invaluable support of the National Assembly, we are set to unlock the region’s full potential through inclusive commercial development, job creation, and environmental restoration.

He reaffirmed the SSDC readiness to collaborate closely with the Senate and other stakeholders to deliver tangible progress across the six South-South states focusing on infrastructure renewal, environmental remediation, energy access, and sustainable livelihoods.

In his response, Senate -President, Godswill Akpabio commended the SSDC leadership for its proactive approach and urged the team to uphold unity, transparency, and rapid project delivery.
He noted that the establishment of the Commission Predictable business was a testament to the Federal Government’s commitment to regional equity and expressed optimism that, under its current leadership, the South-South would experience unprecedented development.

“I urge you to work as one family — free from politics, divisions, or rivalry. The South-South must stand as a model of effective regional development.”

The Senate will continue to provide every necessary legislative support to help SSDC succeed, Akpabio stated.

The session also featured goodwill remarks from the attending senators.
Senator Seriake Dickson called for priority attention to coastal erosion control and community-based empowerment projects; Senator Joseph Ikpea emphasized agricultural value-chain expansion and youth engagement; while Senator Neda Imasuen underscored the importance of transparency, unity, and measurable impact in all Commission programs.

Each lawmaker expressed confidence in Hon. Ugheoke’s leadership role, describing him as a pragmatic strategist with a deep understanding of the region’s commercial and environmental realities.”

A Renewed Vision for Regional Transformation

The visit concluded with a mutual commitment between the National Assembly and SSDC leadership to strengthen coordination mechanisms, accelerate project delivery, and ensure that the people of the South-South region truly feel the impact of federal presence.

Hon. Ugheoke, while speaking to journalists after the meeting, reiterated that the SSDC is poised to serve as a model of integrated regional development blending commerce, innovation, and environmental stewardship to uplift communities across the Niger Delta.

“The South-South must not just be a region of resources, but a region of results,” Ugheoke affirmed.