In recent times, the conversation around regional development in Ni­geria has seen the introduction of the South-South Development Commis­sion (SSDC), raising questions about its difference, or duplication, with the long-standing Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). While the two commissions appear to have similar ob­jectives on the surface, official explana­tions have clarified their distinct roles in Nigeria’s development architecture.

Established in 2000 by the Obasanjo administration, the Niger Delta De­velopment Commission (NDDC) was created specifically to address the en­vironmental degradation and chronic underdevelopment of the oil-produc­ing Niger Delta region. Its statutory mandate, as defined by the NDDC Act, is to “facilitate the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.”

The NDDC covers nine oil-produc­ing states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers. Its focus has traditionally been on ecological challenges, infrastruc­ture deficits, youth empowerment, and remediation projects, including canalisation, shoreline protection, road construction, and skill acquisition initiatives tied closely to oil-producing communities.

In contrast, the South-South Devel­opment Commission (SSDC), a legisla­tive idea that gained national attention following its passage in the Senate in 2024, was conceived to address broad­er economic and socio-political issues affecting the entire South-South geo­political zone, not just the oil-bearing communities. According to Senator Seriake Dickson, a key sponsor of the bill, “The SSDC is designed to be more proactive and strategic in reposition­ing the South-South zone beyond oil dependency.”

A critical difference lies in scope and orientation. While NDDC is interven­tionist and project-based, largely react­ing to the environmental and economic impact of oil exploration, the SSDC is designed as a strategic development agency that will promote industriali­sation, tourism, agriculture, education, and cultural integration within the South-South. This vision includes the establishment of development banks, business incubators, and special eco­nomic zones.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Abu­bakar Momoh, speaking during a policy retreat in late 2024, noted that “the SSDC will not conflict with the NDDC. Rather, it will complement it. The NDDC is proj­ect-based and oil-sector reactive. The SSDC will be more holistic, engaging stakeholders across states regardless of their oil-production status.”

Another key difference is in funding and governance. The NDDC is funded through statutory contributions from the federal government, oil companies, and ecological funds. Its budget is often tied to federal oil revenue. The SSDC, as outlined in its bill, is expected to receive funding from both public and private sector sources, with mechanisms to at­tract international development grants and diaspora investments.

Importantly, the SSDC seeks to institutionalise regional cooperation among the South-South states, similar in ambition to the defunct BRACED Commission (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta), but with federal legislative backing and ac­cess to consolidated national develop­ment funding.

Civil society groups have cautiously welcomed the SSDC, but some remain skeptical. “We hope this is not another duplication that will drain resources without real impact,” said Gloria Ak­pan, a Port Harcourt-based governance advocate. “The NDDC’s poor track re­cord must not be replicated.”