NDDC adopts new regional master plan
NDDC adopts new regional master plan
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has adopted a new stakeholder-driven Regional Development Master Plan to replace the 15-year plan, which expired in 2020.
This decision was among the key resolutions outlined in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the NDDC 2025 Board and Management Strategic Retreat in Ikeja, Lagos. The document was signed by the Chairman of the Commission’s Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, and the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.
The retreat convened members of the Governing Board and the Management Committee to evaluate the Commission’s progress, identify challenges, and establish a roadmap for repositioning the NDDC to enhance efficiency and impact in the Niger Delta Region. This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The communiqué stated that the NDDC Board and Management agreed on the need for proper integration between the Commission and the member states of the region to ensure that projects are conceptualised and implemented in alignment with the needs of the people.
The retreat resolved that the Niger Delta Development Advisory Committee, comprising the Governors of the nine Niger Delta states, should be active and encouraged to carry out its statutory duties to the Commission in order to facilitate the region’s development.
To ensure the sustainability of projects undertaken by the Commission, stakeholders, including beneficiary communities, should be engaged from the inception through the implementation phase. This, the communiqué noted, would secure their support, ownership, and commitment beyond project commissioning.
The communiqué further stated that the NDDC must ensure its budgets align with the fiscal year to which they relate. Accordingly, plans should be made to submit budgets to the National Assembly by September of the preceding year, in line with the provisions of the NDDC Act (as amended).
Participants at the retreat underscored the importance of building on the foundation established at the 2024 Board and Management Retreat, with a focus on collaboration, unity, and synergy between the Board and Management of the Commission.
They cautioned against frequent changes to the NDDC Board in violation of the Act establishing the Commission, stating that such disruptions were detrimental to the development of the region.
The communiqué stressed the need for the current and future Boards of the Commission to complete their statutory tenure in office, ensuring that projects and initiatives are fully implemented without unnecessary interruptions.
There should be a strong synergy and shared vision between the Board and Management to build a high-performing leadership team for the Commission. Each entity must respect its defined roles and boundaries, with the Board overseeing operations and Management focusing on policy implementation and day-to-day administration.
The Commission was urged to embrace digital transformation in its governance processes, integrate sustainability considerations into its procedures, and establish clear performance metrics.
The NDDC should also accommodate the interests of oil-producing companies operating in the region—who contribute to its funding—by locating legacy projects within host communities of these companies.
The communiqué highlighted the presentation and adoption of the KPMG Report on the Corporate Governance Structure, with recommendations to incorporate international best practices in the Commission’s governance framework, operations, and activities.
The Board and Management reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the development of the Niger Delta Region through effective service delivery, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Participants expressed gratitude to Mr President for fully implementing the NDDC Act by ensuring the payment of 15% of the total monthly statutory allocations due to member states of the Commission from the Federation Account.
