Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a renewed national commitment to unlocking the vast economic potential of the Niger Delta, stressing that the region remains crucial to Nigeria’s long-term stability and prosperity.
Speaking in Abuja through his former Chief of Staff, Dr. Mike Ogiadomhe, at the unveiling of The Hidden Treasures authored by Deacon Chris Iyowaye, Jonathan warned that Nigeria can no longer afford to let the region stagnate in cycles of underdevelopment, environmental damage, and policy inconsistency.
“The Niger Delta must not remain trapped in old challenges. We must work together—governments, investors, and communities—to build a region that is stable, prosperous, and fully integrated into Nigeria’s development agenda,” he said.
Jonathan underscored that progress cannot thrive in unstable environments, calling for strengthened institutions, modern infrastructure, and increased investment in education, technology, equity, and youth opportunities.
Delivering a candid assessment of Nigeria’s economic contradictions, the Chief Launcher and former SDP presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, said the country’s poverty is unjustifiable given its vast natural and human resources.
“Nigeria is too blessed to be poor. Every square inch of this country contains treasure—human, mineral, solid, liquid, surface, and subterranean. It is impossible for a country with this level of endowment to be poor,” he stated.
Adebayo described the Niger Delta as a symbol of Nigeria’s global economic relevance and insisted that real transformation will come only when leaders begin harnessing indigenous capacities instead of depending on external solutions.
He praised Iyowaye’s book as an important national intervention that redirects attention to Nigeria’s immense but underexplored opportunities.
In the keynote address delivered on his behalf by the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Prof. Ezekiel Abalaba, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, described The Hidden Treasures as more than a publication—calling it “a literary goldmine, an economic forecast, a development blueprint, and a vision for national rejuvenation.”
He emphasized that Nigeria’s future hinges on innovation, economic inclusion, environmental justice, and digital transformation. Ozekhome argued that the Niger Delta must be seen not only as a revenue extraction hub but as a catalyst capable of launching Nigeria into global competitiveness.
He urged policymakers to adopt the book’s proposals on security reform, digital innovation, and inclusive economic strategies.
Chairman of the occasion and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Major General Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu (rtd), challenged Nigerians to move beyond complaint-driven civic culture and take active roles in national reform.
“If everyone talking about the country’s problems refuses to get involved, who then is responsible for changing the system? Nations are not rebuilt by spectators,” he said.
He warned that Nigeria’s crises persist because many who should lead meaningful conversations remain silent or passive.
Author of The Hidden Treasures, Deacon Chris Iyowaye, said the book is the product of nearly 20 years of research and extensive engagement across the Niger Delta. He stressed that the region’s worth far exceeds its oil resources.
“Beyond oil and gas, there are treasures—solid minerals, marine resources, agriculture, and human capital—waiting to be responsibly harnessed,” he noted.
Iyowaye also introduced the New Crete Oil Foundation, an initiative inspired by the book, aimed at promoting clean water access, agricultural training for women, and leadership education for young people.
“If we do not invest in our people, we have no moral right to speak of transformation. This project is not just a publication; it is a commitment to shaping a better future for the Niger Delta,” he added.
