As part of activities marking its 25th anniversary, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has reaffirmed its commitment to completing long-abandoned legacy projects across the region.
Speaking at a world press conference on Monday in Asaba, Delta State, the Managing Director of the Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, stated that completing stalled and neglected projects will be the central focus of the Commission’s development drive moving forward.
“Today, we are targeting abandoned legacy projects while we put our funds together to complete them,” Ogbuku declared.
He emphasized that many of these projects had consumed billions of naira over the years without being delivered, which represents a massive loss if left uncompleted.
“Some of these projects have already had huge sums paid—billions in fact—so we need to return to them, add value, and ensure that the resources of the Niger Delta people are not wasted,” he said.
Public-Private Partnership at the Core of Completion Plan
Dr. Ogbuku revealed that the NDDC would be leveraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) to accelerate the completion of several key infrastructure projects. According to him, this collaborative model is expected to unlock the necessary funding and technical expertise required to fast-track delivery.
“The ones we have to partner to complete, we partner to complete them,” he affirmed.
Refocusing Strategy for Long-Term Impact
While outlining the NDDC’s achievements over the past two and a half decades, Dr. Ogbuku stressed the need for the Commission to shift its operational priorities toward impactful and sustainable projects, particularly those that have long been stalled.
“There is a need for the NDDC to prioritise project execution, focusing on legacy projects that have been stalled for years. So for us, we are targeting legacy projects,” he reiterated.
He added that the Commission’s renewed approach was not only strategic but also a moral obligation to ensure the billions already invested do not go to waste.
As the NDDC celebrates 25 years of existence, stakeholders across the region are watching closely to see whether the agency’s renewed commitment will translate into real, measurable progress for the people of the Niger Delta.
