ABUJA — Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike on Wednesday delivered a blunt, no-holds-barred charge to the newly inaugurated South-South Development Commission (SSDC) Board, urging members to resist the lure of easy money and political patronage or risk tearing the young agency apart once billions begin to flow.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Board led by Chairman and former Deputy Speaker Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, Wike warned that the real test of unity will come the moment the Commission receives its first major allocation—rumoured to be around ₦50 billion.
“Right now you are all smiling and united because there is no money and no project yet,” Wike said. “The day ₦50 billion lands in the account and one person signs it away without approval, that is when the fighting will start. I have seen it before. Don’t let money destroy this Commission.”
Drawing from his own experience overseeing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as Rivers State governor, Wike cautioned against repeating old mistakes: awarding “political projects,” duplicating state government efforts, or building vanity roads to the homes of influential figures.
“Don’t sit here in Abuja and design 50-metre roads to one big man’s compound,” he said. “Go to the states. Ask the governors and the people what they actually need. That is the only way the South-South will feel real impact.”
The minister stressed that personal ambition and greed have crippled many intervention agencies in the past and urged the Board to place service above self-enrichment.
“Many people get appointed and immediately declare ‘I have arrived.’ That mentality is why development commissions fail,” he declared. “Your loyalty is to President Bola Tinubu who appointed you. Work hard, deliver visible projects, and make him proud he chose you.”
Wike further counselled the members to develop the courage to say “no” to politicians, contractors, and pressure groups that will inevitably swarm the Commission once funds are released.
“Pressure will come from everywhere—senators, governors, traditional rulers, even family members,” he warned. “You must have the discipline to say: ‘This I will not do.’ Even if it costs you your seat. No position is permanent.”
In response, Chairman Chibudom Nwuche thanked Wike for the “fatherly advice” and pledged full commitment to transparency, stakeholder collaboration, and visible, people-centred development across the six South-South states.
“We will not let Mr. President or the people of the region down,” Nwuche assured, promising to strengthen the Commission’s liaison office in Abuja for seamless engagement with federal ministries and agencies.
As the SSDC prepares to roll out its first set of projects under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Wike’s stark warning serves as an early reality check: the road to sustainable regional development will be paved not just with billions, but with integrity, unity, and political will.
