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  • Imo monarch applauds NDDC boss for inclusive development in the Niger Delta

    Imo monarch applauds NDDC boss for inclusive development in the Niger Delta

    The traditional ruler of Ihitteaforukwu kingdom in Ahiazu Mbaise of Imo State, His Royal Majesty, Dr. O.D Nwandu, Akaraka III, has commended the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, for what he described as an inclusive approach to infrastructural development in the region. 

    In a statement released from Obioha palace in Ihitteaforukwu, the monarch praised the NDDC boss for being fair and broad-minded in the distribution of emergency projects, especially the solar street lights. 

    He said, “I wish to commend you, Dr. Ogbuku, for the way the solar street lights have been distributed across the region. 

    “This is the first time that such projects have been made to cover the whole region. You have proved yourself as a leader who is committed to professionalism above sentiment.  

    “Before now, only certain sections of the Niger Delta benefited from these projects, but I have seen that your style is different. The footprints of NDDC are now visible everywhere in the region. 

    “My community and many communities in Imo State have benefitted, and this has positively impacted on the security situation in the state. We are indeed grateful.

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    “I also wish to thank my Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for working in partnership and synergy with Dr. Ogbuku and NDDC.”

    He further called on other state governors in the Niger Delta to emulate Senator Hope Uzodimma in working in partnership with NDDC and other regional development agencies to deliver dividends of democracy to the people with exemplary collaboration devoid of competition and duplication.

    HRM Nwandu assured the NDDC boss of the full cooperation of his community and people to ensure that projects located in the area are completed speedily without any form of disruption.

  • NDDC delivers free surgeries, eye, dental care in Akure medical outreach

    NDDC delivers free surgeries, eye, dental care in Akure medical outreach

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has extended its free medical outreach to several communities in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as part of ongoing efforts to improve access to quality healthcare in underserved areas.

    Speaking on Tuesday during the flag-off of the multimillion-naira programme, the NDDC Deputy Director for the Ondo State office, Kunle Karaki, said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places strong emphasis on enhanced healthcare and service delivery beyond infrastructural development.

    Karaki explained that the outreach is designed to provide free medical consultations, laboratory screenings, eye care, dental services, and various surgical procedures to residents.

    He noted that the intervention, which began at the former Mother and Child Hospital – now the State Specialist Hospital – would run for one week, offering comprehensive healthcare services.

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    According to him, the medical outreach is part of a wider regional strategy to boost public health across the nine Niger Delta states.

    “Everyone of us knows the importance of health, and that is why we take it as a matter of priority. Apart from the roads, electricity, and environmental projects we are doing in the Niger Delta, we consider health as an important segment of life.

    “Our people need this initiative, and that is why we are doing it simultaneously across the region. Last week, we completed the same initiative for the people of the southern senatorial districts of Ondo State,” Karaki said.

    He added that the intervention would significantly deepen access to healthcare, especially for residents of hard-to-reach and underserved communities.

    “You can see the crowd – many have been attended to in surgery, ophthalmology, and dentistry. The target is unlimited; we are here to touch lives in the true sense.”

    Karaki also highlighted the commission’s broader achievements since the assumption of office by its Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, noting improvements across several sectors.

    “You know how the President has been impacting the NDDC through our MD. Since we took over, there have been significant changes – educationally, socially, and infrastructurally. Just last year, we restored electricity to the southern part of Ondo State for the first time in 15 years.

    He disclosed that 250 postgraduate scholarship beneficiaries are currently studying overseas, with more than 1,000 others enrolled in master’s programmes in Nigerian universities, alongside the deployment of educational resources across the region.

    “Only last month, we donated U-Lessons tablets and textbooks to all secondary and primary schools in Ondo State. These are part of our efforts to transform lives beyond physical projects. This outreach is expected to cater to thousands of residents, cutting across various medical needs.”

    Director of Clinical Services at the Ondo State Hospital Management Board, Dr. Lanre Iwaola, described the intervention as invaluable.

    “This intervention is not quantifiable because it directly impacts human life and quality of life. We say health is wealth; without health, you have nothing. For NDDC to come around to offer free services – surgical, ophthalmology, dental care, and others – we simply cannot quantify the benefit.”

    He added that the initiative, if sustained, could serve as a model for community-driven healthcare interventions nationwide, particularly at a time when public health systems face increasing strain.

    Beneficiaries expressed optimism that the free medical services would ease their burden, especially amid rising healthcare costs.

  • NDDC gives aids to victims of fire disaster in Agbor

    NDDC gives aids to victims of fire disaster in Agbor

    A major relief came the way of the 2024/2025 victims of the inferno incidents in Ika South and Ika North-East Local Government Areas of Delta State, as the Chairman, Governing Board of The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Barrister Chiedu Ebie, on behalf of the Commission presented financial support and palliatives to them on Thursday.

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    Organised by the Commission in collaboration with the UsFirst Charity Foundation, the presentation took place at the Vienna Arena Event Centre, Boji Boji Agbor.

  • Tinubu, NDDC performance responsible for South South defection to APC – Emami

    Tinubu, NDDC performance responsible for South South defection to APC – Emami

    Ahead of Monday’s defection of Bayelsa Governor, Douye Diri to the ruling  All Progressives Congress (APC), a foundation member of the party, Chief Ayiri Emami, has identified the superlative performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the South South as the main cause of political shift in the region.

    He also attributed the people centered projects of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda as another factor responsible for the high profile politicians in the region embracing the governing APC.

    Five States in the region which hitherto had been under the firm control of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999 have shifted base to the APC, leaving only Rivers State out. 

    Reacting to the development on Sunday while chatting with newsmen in Abuja, the Delta- born APC chieftain said the programmes and policies of President Tinubu in the last two and half years have endeared the people of the region to him and to the governing party.

    He noted that some of the electioneering promises Tinubu made to the people of the region are fulfilled, giving hope for a brighter future for the region under his administration.

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    According to the Itsekiri Chief: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been fulfilling some of the promises he made to us. He promised that he would make Warri Port work. During President Buhari era, we made efforts to the Villa but you can see, in two years, he (Tinubu) has voted money for the Port now and even the Omadino- Escravos road that will pass through Gbaramatu.

    “There are a lot of things going on, and our people see that he actually had our interests. So, I think those are the convictions with his policies that made the governors from the South South to say no, if we didn’t support him before, now the man is doing what is going to favour us, there is need to support him. I think his performance gave conviction to our leaders and people. So for me, I’m happy that they (governors) are coming.”

    He also acknowledged the yeoman job the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is carrying out in the region under the present administration as another contributory factor to the increasing embrace and support the President and APC are enjoying.

    “I think for the first time, NDDC has a proper vision and a structure, and because of the leadership of the NDDC, the chairman, and the MD, I think they are doing very well. 

    “This is the first time you can see a pocket of projects across the region, and they will go and commission meaningful projects like the Omadino-Escravos road. The initiative came through the NDDC – a joint venture with some oil companies – Chevron, NNPC, and now the state government. So we can have road from Warri to Escravos and you know what that means. 

    “What we used to know about NDDC before now, all our money used to end up in Abuja.   But today, I think the young man (Sam Ogbuku)is equally galvanising support for  Mr. President. That’s whatever he’s doing. He gives his support to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration, and I think our youth are very happy with the administration.”

    Dismissing a repeat of 2023 presidential election result from the region in 2027,  Emami expressed confidence of overwhelming victory for both the President and the ruling party in the region, “I don’t think that will happen in 2027 because we are all in one place. All the actors are in one boat as we speak,” he boasted 

  • NDDC launches tree-planting campaign in Ondo

    NDDC launches tree-planting campaign in Ondo

    Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has begun tree-planting campaign in Ondo State, as part of efforts to combat climate change and promote environmental sustainability across Niger Delta.

    The initiative, aimed at ensuring a greener environment, had earlier been launched in Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo, Abia, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta and Edo states in partnership with the Foundation for Sustainable Development Options (FOSDO), an environmental solutions non-governmental organisation.

    This development comes amid reports of several coastal communities, particularly in southern Nigeria, being devastated by gully erosion.

    Speaking yesterday at a one-day sensitisation workshop and tree-planting event held in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, with the theme: “Reawakening the Practice of Tree Planting”, the Acting State Director of NDDC, Dr. Asonye Victor-Ngozi, said the initiative became necessary in view of the severe ecological impact of erosion across Niger Delta communities.

    He noted that the campaign underscored the commission’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, describing the exercise as a practical demonstration of NDDC’s dedication to safeguard the environment.

    “Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide emissions, mitigating greenhouse effects, improving air and water quality, and sustaining biodiversity,” he said.

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    The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FOSDO, Dr. Anthony Chovwen, lauded NDDC for funding and supporting tree-planting campaigns across the nine Niger Delta states.

    Represented by Ms. Abigail Bokoyeibo, the FOSDO Ondo State programme director, Chovwen said the region was not immune to the effects of climate change, adding that the campaign aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of environmental sustainability.

    “Through this collaboration, we have conducted sensitisation programmes and environmental education projects, reaching more than 1,000 young people in secondary and primary schools across Niger Delta,” she said.

    Delivering a keynote address, Dr. Menakai Kekwaru, an environmental zoologist from the University of Port Harcourt, highlighted the growing threat of climate change caused by human activities that increased carbon emissions and heated the planet.

    Dr. Michael Rotimi Olujugba, a lecturer at Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, emphasised the vital role of trees in sustaining life and reducing noise pollution.

    He urged all tiers of government to implement policies promoting afforestation, noting that “anyone who cuts down a tree should be mandated to plant three new ones.”

    The event featured practical tree-planting sessions involving students from participating schools, including Community Primary School, Kofawa; Caring Heart Mega School; Ilaje High School and Community Grammar School, Igbokoda.

  • Why NDDC opened ultramodern naval base in Bayelsa, by Ogbuku

    Why NDDC opened ultramodern naval base in Bayelsa, by Ogbuku

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) yesterday inaugurated a modern naval base at Ayakoro in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    The commission’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, gave reasons for establishing the naval base in the area.

    The NDDC boss noted that the area is strategic because of its critical positioning as a gateway “for kidnappers and those involved in illegal oil bunkering and artisanal oil refining”.

    He added: “This particular location was chosen by the Navy because of its critical positioning. From this junction, there is a creek that takes you to Sangana in Southern Ijaw. If this point is not blocked, our safety will be challenged. In the past, kidnappers and those involved in illegal oil bunkering and artisanal oil refining carried their products from this place through Onuebum.

    “So, with this facility here, it puts a stop to criminality through this area.”.

    The ceremony attracted dignitaries, including Governor Douye Diri, the management team of the NDDC, as well as the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Idi Abbas; the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Aliyu Gaya; the Commander of NNS Soroh, Commodore Omobamidele Akinbami, and leaders of traditional institutions.

    Ogbuku assured Niger Delta residents of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s love, stressing his determination to develop the region.

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    He said: “I stand here to tell the people of this region that Mr. President is a believer and a lover of Niger Delta. He is doing everything to ensure the region is developed.”

    The NDDC boss said the partnership with the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies across the Niger Delta region was informed by the reasoning that security and development are intertwined.

    He praised the security agencies for their sacrifices and ensuring projects were completed on schedule.

    Ogbuku said: “They are the ones out there ensuring we sleep peacefully. It’s because they have done their jobs very well you see projects springing up across Niger Delta.”  The NDDC boss described the Niger Delta as the most peaceful region in Nigeria due to the efforts of security agencies.

    He recalled that in the past, many contractors were scared of working in many parts of the region due to insecurity.

    “But for their support, we will not be able to carry out these projects to conclusion. There was a time contractors were afraid of going to certain parts of Niger Delta due to the fear of militants and criminals. But today, I can tell you that Niger Delta is one of the most peaceful regions in Nigeria due to the performance of security agents in the region,” Ogbuku said.

    The NDDC boss praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for putting together “these officers and men that have worked tirelessly in the region to promote peace”.

    The naval base has an administrative block, an accommodation block, and a 40-man houseboat equipped with two units 100 kva hp generator, two gunboats with two units of 200 kva Yamaha generators, and a 60 kva solar inverter system installed at administrative and accommodation blocks as a back-up power supply.

    It also has a 30 kva solar inverter installed at the 40-man houseboat as a backup power supply, a full option Toyota Hilux for operational use, a newly built operational floating jetty, and a set of satellite radio receivers for proper and effective communication.

    Chief Clever Akpotu, a community leader, said the event was a testament to the determination of President Tinubu’s administration to enhance security on the waterways.

    He expressed gratitude about the appointment of Ogbuku, who hails from the community.

    The Commandant of the Joint Task Force, code-named Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), Rear Admiral Noel Madugu, said the provision of the naval base was a demonstration of an understanding of the security needs of the coastal communities and the critical role the Navy played in protecting lives, livelihoods, and economic assets in the region.

    Diri, who was represented by an aide, Brig.-Gen. Eric Angaye (retd), said most of Nigeria’s maritime domain and international coastline outside Lagos were within the Gulf of Guinea in the coast of Niger Delta.

    He stressed the importance of Niger Delta to the country’s oil and gas economy, lauding the regional interventionist agency for the project, which he said would enhance economic activities.

  • ‘62 steps to pay a contractor’: Ndoma-Egba lays bare NDDC, NASS bureaucracy

    ‘62 steps to pay a contractor’: Ndoma-Egba lays bare NDDC, NASS bureaucracy

    Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba has provided a damning insider’s account of the institutional decay plaguing key Nigerian agencies, revealing that a staggering 62-step bureaucratic process was required to pay a single contractor during his tenure as Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    In a revealing interview on The Exchange Podcast, hosted by Femi Soneye, he described how such inefficiency directly breeds corruption, calling it an “opportunistic situation.”

    The former Senate Leader lamented that the NDDC, a “well conceived” intervention, has been rendered ineffective by the abandonment of its foundational master plan and constant political interference. He revealed that his own board was dissolved via a news ticker, without any formal communication, highlighting the instability that hinders proper planning.

    Ndoma-Egba’s critique extended to the National Assembly, an institution he argued is still suffering from the legacy of prolonged military rule. He recalled the public’s perception of the legislature as an unnecessary “irritant,” a sentiment exacerbated by incidents like the “furniture allowance saga,” which he claimed was widely misunderstood by the public.

    Comparing past and present governance, he noted that in 1984, he was appointed a commissioner overseeing a portfolio that would today constitute over twelve ministries. While acknowledging the need to manage the cost of governance, he argued that an excessive cut often sacrifices efficiency at the altar of frugality.

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    He identified a “cultural” problem as the core of Nigeria’s institutional weakness, citing a societal timidity in holding leaders accountable and an unhealthy deference to authority. This cultural shift, he argued, is reflected in the stark contrast between the modest lifestyles of first-generation leaders and the material acquisitions of modern public officers.

    Now serving as Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ndoma-Egba faces a different challenge: managing “supersonic speed” growth. He revealed the 14-year-old institution now has 60,000 students and is the fourth most sought-after university in Nigeria, a success he attributes to a stable academic calendar and strong community relations.

    On Nigeria’s youth bulge, Ndoma-Egba stated that it is only an asset if coupled with education, skills, and opportunity. “If they are not educated, if they are not skilled, if they are not empowered, they become a curse,” he warned, emphasising the need for deliberate youth empowerment policies.

    His vision for the future is a “secure and prosperous Nigeria,” a goal he believes is achievable by learning from the past. He nostalgically recalled a more industrious era with functional factories across the north, a far cry from the current economic landscape.

    Despite the challenges, his personal journey—from a 24-year-old board member to Senate Leader—stands as a testament to the opportunities that can exist for the youth, provided the right environment is created by a purposeful state.

  • Navy Chief inaugurates nine NDDC projects in Bayelsa

    Navy Chief inaugurates nine NDDC projects in Bayelsa

    A former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice-Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, has inaugurated nine state-of-the-art strategic security projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Ayakoro, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

    The former Navy Chief, represented by the Commander, Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Noel Madugu, said that the operational facilities handed over by NDDC would bolster the Nigerian Navy’s presence and security operations.

    Madugu, in a statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, observed that Ayakoro was an important town located on the river, making it strategic and crucial for maritime security in the Niger Delta region.

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    He said: “The event we are witnessing today is a statement of the existing close collaboration between the NDDC and the Nigerian Navy, which is geared towards addressing maritime security challenges in the region.

    “I commend the vision and commitment of the leadership of the NDDC for citing the security project at Ayakoro with a view of addressing security challenges associated with the maritime environment in the region.

    “The Navy will spare no effort to ensure that objectives for which the security projects are provided will be fully realised.”

  • NDDC brings Renewed Hope alive with Warri office unveiling

    NDDC brings Renewed Hope alive with Warri office unveiling

    Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has taken a bold step in translating President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda into tangible reality with the commissioning of its multi-million naira state-of-the-art office complex in Warri, Delta State.

    The edifice, built by the seventh board of the commission, was inaugurated by Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, alongside the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh; and members of the National Assembly committees on NDDC, led by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong and Erhiateke Ibori-Suenu, as well as Mr. Chiedu Ebie, NDDC board chairman and Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of the agency.

    Also present were Senator Ned Nwoko, traditional rulers – the Orodje of Okpe, HRM Orhue I, the Ovie of Uvwie, HRM Abe I, the Orosuennof Okere-Urhobo, HRM Owhotemu II, the Ovie of Agbarha-Warri, HRM Igbi II, the Pere of Akugbene Mein, HRM Kalanama XIII and other dignitaries.

    Governor Oborevwori said the new NDDC Warri office signified a renewed partnership between the commission and the state in driving sustainable development.

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    “This is not about opening a new building, it shows a new sense of presence, purpose and partnership, close, clear to see and continuous,” the Governor stated.

    Hailing the NDDC for its renewed vigour in projects execution, he called for collaboration to tackle the region’s deteriorating roads.

    “I appeal to NDDC, let us work together to fix federal roads in our region. These roads have been a nightmare, people are not too happy. That’s why I kicked off the reconstruction of the Spare Parts to Ohore Road, which is costing the state N35 billion,” he said.

    The Governor expressed readiness to partner with the NDDC on strategic projects, particularly the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road, noting: “On the issue of the Omadino–Okerenkoko–Escravos Road, Delta State is ready to partner with the NDDC. As a government, we will support partnerships either at national or regional level.”

  • Ondo youths demand sack of NDDC board member over alleged misconduct

    Ondo youths demand sack of NDDC board member over alleged misconduct

    • ’They don’t deserve my response’

    The Coalition of Oil Producing Youths of Ondo State (COPYOS) has called for the removal of Otito Ehinmore, the state’s representative on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), over alleged gross misconduct, abuse of office and misappropriation of funds.

    The group made the demand in a petition addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dated October 15.

    In the petition by over 30 youth leaders from the state’s oil-producing mandate areas, COPYOS gave President Tinubu a two-week ultimatum to sack Ehinmore, accusing him of nepotism, financial mismanagement and poor representation of Ondo State in NDDC.

    The petitioners alleged that since his appointment, ‘’Ehinmore has turned  Ondo State seat on the NDDC board into a ghost position,” depriving the state of visibility, representation and development projects.’’

    “We, the undersigned Coalition of Youth Movements and Stakeholders from the oil-producing areas of Ondo State, rise in unity to demand the removal of Ehinmore from the NDDC board,” the petition read in part.

    “Our position is driven by deep disappointment and betrayal. Since his appointment, Ehinmore has consistently demonstrated disconnection, irresponsibility and self-serving conduct that grossly undermines the mandate of the NDDC and the trust of the people of Ondo State.”

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    The group further alleged that Ehinmore allocated the only four NDDC employment slots meant for the state’s oil-producing communities to his immediate family members — identified as Dare Ehinmore, Dayo Ehinmore, Babatunde Ehinmore and Taye Stella Olayemi.

    They also accused him of diverting funds earmarked for the 2023 and 2024 NDDC Youth Empowerment Programmes and of failing to engage key stakeholders, youth groups and traditional rulers in Ilaje and Ese-Odo local governments — the state’s main oil-producing zones.

    “Ehinmore has been completely invisible and unavailable in all oil-producing communities of Ondo State since assuming office,” the group alleged. “He has failed to initiate or attract any meaningful development projects, nor has he created any avenue for interaction with the people he represents.”

    The coalition said its agitation was not politically-motivated, but a call for effective representation and accountability in the management of NDDC affairs as they affected Ondo State.

    They warned that failure by the presidency to act within the stipulated two-week period would compel them to mobilise mass protests and shut down NDDC-related activities in the state.

    “We will not continue to be silent spectators while our region suffers from neglect and misrepresentation. The time for change is now,” the petitioners declared.

    However, in a swift reaction, Ehinmore dismissed the allegations as politically- motivated, saying he was unbothered by the call for his removal.

    “They don’t deserve my response. If the President removes me, I will go to my house,” he said.