The journey with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as a vehicle designed for the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta region, has been contending with varied challenges. While there have been many successes and achievements, there have also been gaps and deficiencies that need to be remedied to ensure a more efficient discharge of its mandate for sustainable regional development.
As a matter of fact, the commission has struggled with faithfully delivering on its mandate as envisioned by the stakeholders of the region, as an interventionist agency to bring about the desired peace and development through accountable and equitable allocation of resources for infrastructural development and empowerment.
To reverse the trend, President Tinubu, while acknowledging the critical role the Niger Delta plays in the nation’s economic and social fabric, pledged his full backing for the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region, vowing to support initiatives that will spur economic growth and improve living standards.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
However, for the past 24 years, NDDC has executed about 7,483 projects. Out of these completed projects, about 3,357 are roads and bridges, approximately 611 are renewable energy projects, while 3,427 are still ongoing. The NDDC, under the stewardship of the current Board, has witnessed the completion and commissioning of many projects, aligning with a remarkable portfolio of 92 infrastructure projects, representing an N84 billion investment spread across the nine states of the Niger Delta region. These transformative endeavors encompass roads, electrification, health centers, schools, and other vital infrastructure, aimed at not only reshaping the region’s development landscape but also significantly contributing to the realization of various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Moreover, in Abia State, the reconstruction of the 9-kilometer Obehie to Oke Ikpe Road is a significant stride toward enhancing regional connectivity between Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Abia states. This endeavor supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by facilitating the seamless movement of goods, services, and people, thereby bolstering trade, economic growth, and development throughout the region. During the process, the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who spoke at the commissioning of the road linking Abia and Akwa Ibom states, observed that it was almost impassable before the intervention of the NDDC. He subsequently flagged off the reconstruction of Oke-Ikpe-Akwete-Ohambele Road, Phase II, also to be undertaken by the NDDC.
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku
Beyond these flagship initiatives, the NDDC’s expansive portfolio encompasses numerous other projects that contribute to various SDGs. The construction of health centers and schools directly addresses SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Also, electrification projects in rural areas play a pivotal role in achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), while the establishment of police stations strengthens SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). The NDDC’s N84 billion investment in infrastructure projects represents a monumental stride toward a sustainable and prosperous future for the Niger Delta region. By aligning these projects with the SDGs, the NDDC is not merely constructing roads, bridges, and buildings but also paving the way for a brighter, more equitable, and more sustainable tomorrow for the people of the Niger Delta and the nation as a whole.
Furthermore, in a groundbreaking initiative, the NDDC is lighting up the nights in communities across the nine states of the Niger Delta, casting a radiant glow of change on communities previously covered in darkness. The heart of this transformation lies in solar-powered street lights, a beacon of progress that is revolutionizing the way people live and work, with ripple effects that extend far beyond the streets they illuminate. The “Light Up Niger Delta” project with solar-powered street lights is part of measures to fight criminality, boost socio-economic activities, and enhance peace in the region.
In the same vein, the commission also introduced a youth development and empowerment scheme designed to create a comprehensive resource database of the youth population of the Niger Delta region. The scheme, known as Holistic Opportunities, Projects, and Engagement (HOPE), is meant to provide a platform to empower youths of the region on a sustainable basis. Project HOPE marks a turning point in youth development and empowerment because it is holistic and designed for sustainability.
According to the Managing Director of the commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, he hinted that the management of NDDC will start commissioning projects in February 2025, while intensifying work on ongoing projects.
He assured that, apart from completing significant projects, they will embark on many new projects while working to complete the Kaa Ataba Bridge in Rivers State, for which they have engaged the contractor who assured them the project will be completed in seven months. “It is one of the projects we listed under the NLNG partnership. Once that project is completed, the people of the region will have more reason to attest that NDDC is working,” he added.
The commission will also be looking at revitalizing the Okirika-Borikiri Bridge and other legacy projects they earmarked to be executed within the 2024 budget cycle.
In the same development, the commission’s projects to be executed in 2025 for Abia State include:
Ukwa West: Construction of Uzoukwo-Owaza-Iguruta Road linking Abia State to Rivers State.
Ukwa East/West/Etim Ekpo: Completion of Obehie-Azumini-Etim Ekpo Road linking Abia to Akwa Ibom State.
Ukwa West: The construction of Obohia-Ohanku-Aba Road with Spur to Ohambele-Obeaku (32.3 km) linking to Aba.
