Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has attributed the high number of uncompleted projects in the Niger Delta to frequent leadership changes within the commission.
Ogbuku made this known in a statement released on Friday by the NDDC’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt.
He pointed out that the commission had seen 16 different Chief Executive Officers over the past 25 years, a pattern he described as a major obstacle to continuity and project delivery.
“In the past 25 years, the NDDC has had 16 Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers, which has caused instability within the system,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that the current NDDC leadership was committed to fulfilling President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by accelerating infrastructural and social development across the region.
He stated that President Tinubu had tasked the NDDC Governing Board and Management with completing abandoned projects and transforming the Niger Delta through strategic investments.
“President Tinubu also mandated us to complete and deliver all abandoned critical projects across the region,” he said.
“I assure the people that, before the end of the President’s tenure, we will complete all abandoned legacy projects within the Niger Delta.”
He urged residents of the region to appreciate the President’s commitment to its long-term development.
Ogbuku also explained that the commission had recorded measurable progress since adopting the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as its main operational strategy. He cited recent collaboration with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) as evidence of the effectiveness of this approach.
On monitoring, he said the commission had strengthened its state offices with vehicles and equipment to support the regular supervision of projects.
“We want to ensure that our officials are not mere spectators but actively supervise local contractors who are executing numerous projects commissioned by the NDDC,” he said.
“This is founded on the understanding that the quality of project delivery is dependent on adequate supervision and oversight, in order to meet international standards.”
He noted that the commission’s “Rebirth and Rewind” policy had successfully shifted NDDC from a transactional to a transformational development model.
On entrepreneurship, he said the NDDC was working with the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce to support verified farmers and entrepreneurs.
He also announced the establishment of a youth database, which would help in planning and data sharing with other development partners.
Ogbuku said the commission’s approach was complementary, not competitive, with state governments.
In a bid to improve internal systems, he revealed that the NDDC had engaged KPMG to design a corporate governance framework and review its Standard Operating Procedures.
He added that this governance structure had helped boost the confidence of development partners and improved the commission’s ability to deliver sustainable projects.
(NAN)