World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has urged Niger Delta states to establish Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and strengthen infrastructure and policies to unlock the region’s industrial and investment potential.
Okonjo-Iweala made the call virtually, on Tuesday September 15, at the Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit in Port Harcourt, organised by the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA). She said the region had the resources and strategic advantages to emerge as Nigeria’s next major industrial hub alongside Lagos, but stressed that natural resources alone could not guarantee development.
The WTO chief called for improved project execution and maintenance, efficient ports, better digital infrastructure and reduced trade costs. She also cited concerns over poverty and other development indicators, urging NDCCITMA to lead efforts to attract investors and position the Niger Delta as a major regional trade hub.
NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said the commission had released an initial N5 billion loan facility through NDCCITMA to support businesses across the region. Keynote speaker Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede urged the region to move from a rent-based to a productive economy, while NDCCITMA Board Chairman Idaere Ogan called for stronger cooperation among the nine Niger Delta states to jointly develop infrastructure and pursue a unified economic agenda.
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