President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the transformation of the Niger Delta region, directing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to expedite the completion of long-abandoned projects and prioritise people-focused development.
The President’s directive was conveyed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the NDDC held in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
According to Tinubu, the Commission plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economic development, particularly through infrastructure, youth empowerment, and agricultural initiatives in the oil-producing region.
“The Niger Delta remains vital to Nigeria’s prosperity,” Tinubu stated. “The NDDC must stay focused on completing legacy projects like the Okrika and Ataba sea-crossing bridges, while driving investments in human capital.”
He assured that the current NDDC Board has the administration’s full backing to complete its tenure, providing much-needed stability and continuity to reform the Commission.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio revealed that the current board inherited over 14,000 abandoned projects, attributing the situation to leadership instability. He noted that efforts are underway to address these setbacks.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, in his remarks, called for an end to frequent leadership changes in the NDDC, emphasizing that such disruptions hamper effective project implementation. He also cautioned against awarding contracts without guaranteed funding.
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), decried the Commission’s low performance despite significant funding. She noted that of ₦7 trillion disbursed for over 15,000 projects, only about 35% have been completed.
