(DDM) – Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged young people in the Niger Delta to channel their energy towards innovation and entrepreneurship, warning that crime cannot deliver sustainable growth to the region.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Akpabio made this call during the two-day Niger Delta Oil and Gas Investment and Security Summit held in Calabar from August 29 to 30, 2025.
Call for constructive engagement and collaboration
Represented by Senator Benson Agadaga, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas Host Communities, Akpabio emphasised the importance of dialogue and intellectual contributions to national progress.
He stressed that the era of violent agitation was over and that constructive engagement must now guide the region’s development agenda.
Importance of existing laws and opportunities
The Senate President reminded participants that several laws already exist to encourage host communities to benefit from the oil and gas sector.
These include the Petroleum Industry Act, the Local Content Act, and the Environmental Content Development and Monitoring Act.
Akpabio said these policies were designed to ensure wealth creation, strengthen local participation, and support long-term sustainability in the sector.
Encouragement for private investments
He urged Niger Delta stakeholders not to rely solely on government initiatives but to seize available opportunities in oil and gas.
According to him, individuals and organisations can collaborate to set up companies that create jobs, expand local capacity, and generate wealth.
He stated, “There is nothing wrong if two or three individuals or organisations come together to establish their own company and invest in the region’s oil and gas sector.”
Vision for the Niger Delta’s future
Akpabio noted that lasting progress would only be possible when youths embrace education, innovation, and collaborative ventures rather than criminality.
He said such an approach would not only drive development but also address the social problems caused by poverty and restiveness.
Background of the summit
The Niger Delta Oil and Gas Investment and Security Summit brought together key players from the oil and gas sector, government agencies, and host communities.
The event focused on strategies to protect oil and gas infrastructure while maximising local content participation.
Stakeholders agreed that stronger cooperation between government, industry leaders, and communities was vital to secure long-term benefits for the Niger Delta.
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