The Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) has announced plans to attract up to $5 billion in structured investments into the region over the next five years. The initiative is expected to generate no fewer than 500,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of NDCCITMA, Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, during a pre-summit conference held ahead of the Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit. The summit is scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from May 19 to May 21, 2026.
Ogan said the investment drive is designed to stimulate economic growth, create wealth, and accelerate development across the oil-producing region. He noted that the initiative aims to transition the Niger Delta from a resource-dependent economy into a diversified and industrialized hub.
According to him, the summit, themed “Driving Investment, Innovation, and Industrial Growth in the Niger Delta,” will focus on key areas such as investment mobilisation, enterprise development, industrial expansion, and regional collaboration. He added that stakeholders would deliberate on practical strategies to unlock the region’s economic potential.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to attend the summit as the special guest of honour. The Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, is billed to deliver the keynote address, highlighting the international significance of the event.
Ogan also referenced the recent Niger Delta Business Roundtable, which brought together policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, development institutions, and other stakeholders from the nine Niger Delta states. He said the outcome of the roundtable underscored the need for the region to move beyond discussions and focus on implementation.
He emphasized that the summit would serve as a platform to consolidate ideas generated from previous engagements and convert them into actionable investment opportunities. The goal, he said, is to create a coordinated approach to economic development across the region.
Speaking at the briefing, NDCCITMA Secretary and Chairman of the Summit Local Organising Committee, Dr. Solomon Edebiri, described the event as a strategic initiative aimed at repositioning the Niger Delta as a competitive destination for investment.
Edebiri noted that while the region has historically been known for its contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, it possesses vast untapped resources in other sectors. He said the summit would highlight these opportunities and encourage diversification into areas such as agriculture, manufacturing, and trade.
He added that unlocking the region’s broader economic potential would require sustained collaboration between the public and private sectors. According to him, the summit is expected to attract both local and international investors interested in long-term partnerships.
Edebiri further disclosed that the organising committee has planned a series of promotional activities ahead of the summit. These include roadshows across the Niger Delta states, as well as outreach efforts in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said these activities are intended to raise awareness about the summit and attract wide participation from stakeholders across different sectors. A follow-up press conference is also planned as part of the engagement strategy.
Other officials present at the pre-summit conference included NDCCITMA Financial Secretary, Chief Kelechi Obilor, Board Member Mrs. Boma Jack, and Hon. Marcel Odunze, among others.
The upcoming summit is expected to serve as a major platform for advancing economic transformation in the Niger Delta, with a focus on sustainable development and long-term investment growth.
