NDDC poised for greater impact in Niger Delta — Board Chairman assures
…NDDC Poised for Greater Impact in Niger Delta Development, Says Chairman
The Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to driving substantial development in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the NDDC’s two-day Board and Management Retreat in Ikeja, Lagos, Ebie stated that the Commission was building on its 2024 foundations to refine its strategies for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
The retreat, themed “Repositioning NDDC for Efficient Service Delivery,” attracted members of the National Assembly, former chairmen and managing directors of the NDDC, and key stakeholders.
Ebie emphasised the importance of unity and synergy in achieving the Commission’s goals, aligning its efforts with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We remain guided by the clarion call of the Honourable Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, as we work towards President Tinubu’s eight priorities, which include food security, poverty eradication, job creation, and the fight against corruption,” Ebie said.
“At the core of this retreat is the need for unity and collaboration. Our success depends not just on individual expertise but on our collective effort as a cohesive team. This retreat provides an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the Board and Management, ensuring our shared vision translates into effective service delivery. By working together, we can enhance NDDC’s efficiency, accountability, and overall impact,” he added.
The NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, reiterated the Commission’s dedication to fulfilling its presidential mandate of improving conditions in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.
“The President gave us a directive at our inauguration to transform the Niger Delta positively. The Board and Management have worked tirelessly to meet these expectations. Six months after our inauguration, we commissioned several significant projects as part of the one-year anniversary of President Tinubu’s administration,” Ogbuku said.
He highlighted major infrastructure projects commissioned by the NDDC between 18 and 28 May 2024, including: The 27.5-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road, developed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The 6-kilometre Iko-Atabrikang-Akata-Opulom-Ikot Inwang-Okoroutip-Iwochang Road and the 600-metre Ibeno Bridge in Akwa Ibom State. The 9-kilometre Obehie-Oke-Ikpe Road in Ukwa West, Abia State.
Additionally, Ogbuku noted the Commission’s achievements in electricity provision, citing the 45-kilometre double-circuit 33KV feeder line from Omotosho Power Station to Okitipupa, Ondo State, which restored power to 25 local government areas that had been in darkness for 15 years. The 1×15MVA 33/11KV electricity injection substation in Amufi, Ikpoba-Okha, Edo State, was also inaugurated.
The NDDC Managing Director highlighted the Commission’s engagement with stakeholders to ensure cooperation in regional development. He pointed to the successful Niger Delta Summit, which gathered key figures to discuss developmental strategies.
Ogbuku also reiterated NDDC’s commitment to accountability, revealing that the globally renowned audit firm KPMG had been engaged to review the Commission’s operations. “We are committed to implementing KPMG’s recommendations to enhance transparency and efficiency,” he stated.
He added that data-driven planning would underpin all NDDC programmes to ensure equitable benefit distribution. Under the Commission’s youth empowerment initiative, payments to registered beneficiaries had already commenced.
Ogbuku detailed recent progress in road infrastructure, including the completion of the Auchi-Eruwe Road and significant progress on the Port Harcourt-Owerri Road, which had reached the asphalting stage.
He further noted that the Commission was engaging International Oil Companies (IOCs) for large-scale projects. “We are collaborating with Nigeria LNG (NLNG) to facilitate the construction of the Bonny Ring Road. Other major road projects include the Kaa-Ataba and Borokiri-Okrika roads,” he added.
Looking forward to 2025, which will mark NDDC’s 25th anniversary, Ogbuku announced plans for a series of activities, including the commissioning of completed projects.
“A major highlight will be the inaugural Niger Delta Sports Festival, aimed at fostering regional integration and developing amateur sporting talent. Akwa Ibom State will host the festival,” he disclosed.
The NDDC boss also highlighted the success of the Commission’s Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme, which has benefited 2,700 students. He noted that some scholars had recorded exceptional performances, particularly at Coventry University in the United Kingdom.
As the Commission advances its development agenda, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how these plans translate into tangible improvements in the Niger Delta.
