We Are Delivering On Regional Projects

Managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has said the commission is committed to the completion and commissioning of all on-going projects across the Niger Delta region.

Speaking in a virtual presentation at the NDDC’s region-wide media engagement in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku said that the recent inauguration of five mega projects in Abia, Edo, Ondo, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states was a testimony of the new passion with which the commission was delivering on its mandate.

He stated that President Bola Tinubu had charged the commission to complete and commission signature projects that would impact the lives of Niger Deltans.

Ogbuku said the NDDC had so far inaugurated the 132/33kv electricity sub-station at Ode-Erinje in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State to light up five local government areas in the state, as well as the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State, which was executed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

He said that the NDDC also inaugurated the 600-metre Ibeno Bridge and the 6.87-kilometre Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-IwuoAchang Road in Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom State, as well as the 9-kilometre Obehie-Oke-Ikpe Road in Ukwa West local government area of Abia State.

Taking the media executives on a virtual tour of NDDC projects, the executive director, Projects, Sir Victor Antia, said that the commission had constructed and rehabilitated 5,141.3 kilometres of roads through swamps and virgin forests. He added that the commission had also built 42 bridges, thousands of hydraulic structures and 87 jetties across the Niger Delta region.

In the education sector, he highlighted the Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Programme of the commission, noting that 2,323 students in the region have so far benefited from it.

“We have commenced the process for the 2024/2025 scholarship programme,” he added.

Earlier, the NDDC executive director, Corporate Services, Hon Ifedayo Abegunde, acknowledged the contributions of the media to the growth of democracy and public accountability.