Ogbia Kingdom visits Tinubu, seeks Oloibiri petroleum institute

The Ogbia Kingdom of Bayelsa State has pledged support for President Bola Tinubu and appealed for the establishment of a petroleum institute in Oloibiri, the historic birthplace of Nigeria’s oil industry.

The appeal was made on Thursday during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the kingdom to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The delegation was led by the monarch of Ogbia Kingdom, King Charles Owaba, and included prominent sons of the area, among them the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku.

Speaking during the visit, the royal father expressed gratitude to the president for what he described as the confidence reposed in sons and daughters of Ogbia through key national appointments, particularly the appointment of Dr Ogbuku as managing director of the NDDC.

According to King Owaba, the appointments reflected the president’s commitment to inclusive governance and sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.
The delegation also presented a list of priority development needs of Ogbia Kingdom to the president. These include the construction of the Akaba–Okodi Road, strategic bridges to improve connectivity, shoreline protection for communities affected by erosion, and the establishment of a petroleum-related institute in Oloibiri.

Oloibiri is widely regarded as the cradle of Nigeria’s oil industry, having hosted the country’s first commercial oil discovery.
Reacting to the visit, Dr Ogbuku said President Tinubu commended the efforts of the NDDC Board and Management, a gesture he said had further strengthened the commission’s resolve to deliver impactful development across the Niger Delta.

“His words of encouragement have further energised our resolve to sustain people-centred and impactful development across the Niger Delta region,” Ogbuku said.
He added that the visit went beyond appreciation, noting that it reaffirmed the strong bond between Ogbia Kingdom and the Federal Government.

“Our people used the opportunity to express firm support for President Tinubu’s leadership and his vision for a progressive Nigeria,” he said.

Ogbuku stressed that unity, collaboration and purposeful governance remained central to advancing the aspirations of the people of Ogbia Kingdom and contributing meaningfully to national development.