The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has called for a shift toward community-driven development projects, warning against the continued implementation of interventions that do not reflect the true needs of local populations.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Executive Secretary of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), Dr. George-Kelly Dakorinama Alabo, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Ibas emphasized the need for strategic alignment between development efforts and grassroots priorities.
“The country is richly endowed, with several development agencies and international partners supporting national growth, but the lack of coordination and people-centered planning remains a major setback,” Ibas said.
He criticized the current practice of imposing projects without proper consultation, arguing that such efforts often fail to deliver lasting impact. He advocated for a more inclusive and coordinated approach that ensures interventions are relevant, sustainable, and equitably distributed—even beyond Nigeria’s immediate border areas.
The Administrator threw his support behind the 69 BCDA projects planned for Rivers State in 2025, comprising 43 constituency projects and 26 core capital initiatives. He pledged the state’s cooperation, including the provision of office space for the BCDA’s South-South Zonal Office, to help streamline implementation and enhance impact.
In response, Dr. Alabo explained that the projects were selected based on a national needs assessment focused on Nigeria’s border communities, including underserved land and maritime areas. He outlined key sectors of intervention—water, education, healthcare, agriculture, electricity, and social services—and said the initiatives aim to support the over 26 million Nigerians living in border areas across 21 states and 105 local governments.
Dr. Alabo also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s administration for increasing the agency’s budget by tenfold, enabling broader and more effective outreach. He appealed to the Rivers State Government to support the establishment of a permanent BCDA office in the state to enhance operations in the region.
The state government reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, needs-based development and pledged continued collaboration with federal agencies to ensure impactful and community-centered interventions.
