The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) has assured residents of Yala Local Government Area in Cross River State that future interventions in the region will be driven by the needs and priorities of local communities rather than decisions made from government offices.
The assurance was given during a stakeholders' engagement led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Usoro Akpabio, who met with government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, women, youths and other stakeholders as part of the Commission's ongoing consultation across the South-South region. The exercise is aimed at identifying the most pressing developmental needs of communities and incorporating them into the Commission's regional development plans.
During the engagement, residents painted a grim picture of life in Yala, lamenting years of poor road infrastructure, unstable electricity supply, inadequate healthcare services, lack of potable water, poor educational facilities and widespread youth unemployment.
Community leaders stressed that despite Yala's enormous agricultural potential, poor infrastructure has continued to discourage investment and limit economic growth. They argued that fixing roads and electricity would significantly improve farming, transportation and commercial activities across the area.
Speaking on behalf of the people, Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Stephen Odey, welcomed the Commission's visit, describing it as a positive step towards addressing the long-standing developmental challenges facing the local government.
He urged the SSDC to prioritise investments in road construction, electricity, healthcare, education and youth empowerment, insisting that targeted interventions in these sectors would unlock Yala's economic potential and improve living conditions for residents.
According to him, the people of Yala are ready to collaborate with the Commission to ensure that any intervention produces measurable and lasting results.
Responding, SSDC Managing Director Usoro Akpabio said the Commission was committed to a people-centred development model where communities are active partners rather than passive beneficiaries.
She explained that the visit was not merely ceremonial but the beginning of a long-term partnership with host communities, assuring residents that every concern raised during the meeting would be documented and reflected in the Commission's regional development agenda.
Akpabio further disclosed that the Commission is working with relevant institutions to improve electricity, healthcare, education and critical infrastructure across the South-South region while ensuring that projects remain sustainable.
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from both the SSDC and community leaders to maintain collaboration in pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development.
While residents welcomed the Commission's promises, many noted that previous government engagements had produced little visible impact, insisting that the true measure of success would be the delivery of completed roads, improved healthcare facilities, reliable electricity and meaningful employment opportunities—not more consultations.
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