Aig-Imoukhuede Calls for Niger Delta Economic Reform

At the 2026 Niger Delta Economic and Investment Summit in Port Harcourt, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group, questioned the effectiveness of the Niger Delta's spending legacy over the past 27 years. He noted that the region had received about $140 billion in federal allocations since 1999, totaling approximately $160 billion when including funds from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Aig-Imoukhuede emphasized the need to assess what productive assets had been created from this wealth, arguing that the region suffers from a "conversion problem" where natural resources have not translated into economic prosperity. He advocated for a shift from a rent-focused economy to one driven by investment and enterprise, proposing a Niger Delta Development and Investment Compact involving state governments, the Federal Government, NDDC, and private sector stakeholders to prioritize regional development and establish clear financing mechanisms.