29/07/2025
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT MUST REFLECT Local Needs – RIVERS ADMINISTRATOR TELLS BCDA The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has called for a more coordinated, community-centered approach to development in Nigeria, urging government agencies and donor partners to align their projects with the real needs of the people. Speaking at Government House in Port Harcourt during a courtesy visit by the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) on Tuesday, the Administrator decried the imposition of projects that do not address local priorities, describing such efforts as unsustainable and inefficient. “We are too richly endowed as a country to have so many communities still lacking basic infrastructure,” Vice Admiral Ibas stated. “The challenge is not a lack of resources or support, but the lack of coordination and true consultation with the communities concerned.” The BCDA delegation was led by Executive Secretary, Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, who presented the agency’s 2025 intervention plan for Rivers State, which includes 69 projects—43 constituency-based and 26 core capital projects—spanning sectors such as water, education, health, agriculture, energy, and social services. Vice Admiral Ibas welcomed the proposed interventions but urged deeper collaboration with state ministries to ensure optimal delivery. He also expressed support for the establishment of a permanent BCDA Zonal Office in the South-South region, pledging to make office space available in the state. Dr. Alabo, in his remarks, said the projects were informed by a nationwide needs assessment targeting both land and maritime border communities. He emphasized that over 26 million Nigerians in 105 local government areas live in border regions, many of which are underserved and disconnected from national infrastructure. He commended President Bola Tinubu for increasing the agency’s funding tenfold, noting that the boost has enabled BCDA to scale up its reach and impact. The Rivers State Government reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, community-led development and pledged continued cooperation with federal agencies to deliver sustainable solutions to underserved areas. 🤝🌎💚🌈
