As we celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the NDDC, it is imperative that we acknowledge the progress we have made and also recognise that there is still much work to be done as the Niger Delta region continues to face significant development challenges and we must work together to address these issues.
The Governing Board and Management of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), have again proven to Nigerians, particularly the people of the oil bearing Niger Delta region, that history does matter. They have also shown clearly that calculations and permutations can be upturned by extra-ordinary personalities.
The above assertion was evidenced by the torrents of praises, accolade, commendation poured on the Commission and its management and board by critical stakeholders during its week-long 25th anniversary celebration.
Beginning with Ondo state, one of the NDDC mandate states, Ondo Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, hailed the management of the NDDC for the peace and development currently prevailing in the Niger Delta region. He said the Commission under the current management and board has succeeded in bridging developmental gaps in the region, noting that NDDC’s emphasis on partnerships and collaboration aimed at driving sustainable development across the Niger Delta, have ushered in unprecedented progress.
Aiyedatiwa who spoke at the thanksgiving service of the NDDC held at St Thomas’s Anglican Church, Akure, the Ondo state capital, stressed that the commission has undoubtedly lived up to its established mandate, commending the Board and Management for their exemplary leadership and commitment.
The Governor hailed the commission’s commitment and dedication to project conception, implementation, and completion, noting that the NDDC has established a culture of delivery and the region would no longer witness abandonment of projects as was the case in the past.
His words: “As we celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the NDDC, it is imperative that we acknowledge the progress we have made and also recognise that there is still much work to be done as the Niger Delta region continues to face significant development challenges and we must work together to address these issues. “I urge the NDDC to continue to improve on its activities, ensuring that projects are tailored to the needs of the communities we serve. Let us work together to unlock the potential of our region, promote economic growth and enhance the lives of our people. We are partners in progress, unity and development.”
From Ondo state to Asaba, the Delta state capital, it was the same rain of effusive praises. The revered Asaba monarch, the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Epiphany Azinge, on his part was full of praises for the NDDC for its achievements in the past 25 years.
Obi Azinge spoke when Ebie led a delegation of the Commission’s Board and Management to pay a courtesy visit to him in his palace in Asaba, the Delta State capital. The First class Royal father commended the NDDC for its intervention in several sectors across the Niger Delta region. He expressed delight with the foreign postgraduate scholarship programme, which had helped many Niger Delta youths upgrade their knowledge.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the NDDC Chairman, whom he said had served the Delta State Government in different capacities. He noted that Ebie served meritoriously as Delta State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education and later, Secretary to the State Government. The monarch thanked the NDDC for selecting Asaba as the venue for some of the activities marking its 25th anniversary, such as a press conference and the movie premiere.
Earlier, the NDDC Board Chairman congratulated Asagba on his ascension to the throne of his forefathers, saying he was eminently qualified for the position. Ebie expressed optimism that the Asagba’s reign would bring good tidings to Asaba, which serves as both a kingdom and the capital of Delta State.
He stated that the NDDC had come of age and was now a big brother to the new development agencies in Nigeria’s geo-political zones. Ebie disclosed that as part of the silver jubilee celebration, the Commission was going around the nine states of the Niger Delta. “We are in Asaba to hold a World Press conference and movie premiere because the town is fast becoming the Nollywood capital of Nigeria”, he said.
In a related development, NDDC’s Managing Director, Sam Ogbuku, while showing the Commission’s scorecard spoke what has been in the minds of Niger Deltans. According to him, the NDDC has achieved remarkable milestones in the last 25 years and made a significant impact in the lives of the people of the region.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stated that the current Board and Management have initiated several projects and programmes that have helped to change the story of the Niger Delta for the better.
“The President gave us a matching order during our inauguration to positively turn things around in the Niger Delta region”, he said.
Ogbuku pledged that the NDDC’s commitment to adhering strictly to the President’s directive to the Commission to complete all ongoing projects in the region, including roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities. He disclosed that the Commission was engaging all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in the task of developing the hitherto neglected Niger Delta region.
He noted that, “It is not only by our efforts; it is the collaborative efforts from all the stakeholders who believe the time has come when there should be stability in the NDDC and that stability is a challenge to us to ensure that we deliver development to the people of the Niger Delta region.”
Continuing, Ogbuku said: “We believe that in partnership with stakeholders, we are going to achieve more, and development in our region will be faster and more holistic.
On the achievements of the Commission in the last 25 years, he rued that the frequent changes in management and boards of NDDC have caused setbacks to development in the region.
“For us at NDDC, we are targeting legacy projects. Our mandate is to complete those critical projects. We are intervening in critical areas because they are our responsibility”, Ogbuku stressed
He explained that the NDDC under the leadership of the current Board and Management, has demonstrated commitment to actualizing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, who is concerned about development of the Niger Delta region.
The NDDC boss stated that to achieve President Tinubu’s mandate to the Niger Delta region, the commission decided to engage stakeholders in the area to achieve the desired goals. The Commission, he emphasized, developed a policy of transitioning from transaction to transformation and digitalising their procurement process, so that nobody can fake the procurement documents of the Commission.
According to Ogbuku, “through the initiative of the Board and Management, we have restructured the administrative architecture of the Commission to its 13 statutory Directorates, and introduced robust Corporate Governance protocols, including KPIs and SOPs, through collaboration with KPMG. This formalised a value-driven institutional culture anchored on ethics and performance.
He recalled that last year, the NDDC commissioned five major development projects across the Niger Delta region. He listed them to include the 27.5-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road, constructed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC which has seven bridges and 50 culverts, connecting 14 communities in Bayelsa State.
“Similarly, we commissioned the 6km Iko-Atabrikang-Akata-Opulom-Ikot Inwang-Okoroutip-Iwochang Road and 600m Ibeno Bridge in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, as well as the 9km Obehie-Oke-Ikpe Road in Ukwa West LGA of Abia State.
“We commissioned the 45-km double-circuit 33KV feeder line from Omotosho Power Station to Okitipupa in Ondo State. This electrification project supplies light to the 25 local governments that have been in darkness for 15 years. We also inaugurated the 1×15MVA 33/11KV electricity injection substation in Amufi, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area in Benin City, Edo State”, he informed.
Recall that a few months ago, The National chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, gave the plaudits when he led leaders of various groups to meet with the NDDC management team at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
In an address read on behalf of the visiting delegation, Senator Ibok-Essien said that the leaders were delighted by the efforts of the NDDC to light up communities across the Niger Delta states, noting that it would help in fighting criminality in the region.
The leaders said: “The rural electrification projects have not only enhanced the aesthetics of these areas but also contributed to reducing nocturnal security challenges. We encourage the Commission to extend this initiative to all communities and ensure the training of local manpower for the effective maintenance of these facilities.
“We also appreciate the Commission’s efforts in road construction and rehabilitation, as well as human resources development through educational scholarships, women and youth development programmes, vocational and skills acquisition initiatives.”
“We are glad to note the successes you have recorded, such as your Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited, NLNG, on shared aspirations and on corporate governance with KPMG. We do hope to see that these interactions and engagements will generate positive fruits of development soonest.”
For me, one heart warming development in this whole episode is that the same NDDC, that a few years ago ‘enjoyed’ more burden than goodwill and received devastating reputational blows than applause, is today celebrated. Thanks to the focussed and purpose driven current governing board and management!
Utomi, a Media Specialist writes from Lagos, Nigeria. He could be reached via Jeromeutomi@yahoo.com/08032725374.
