Abubakar Momoh, Minister of Regional Development, (middle) cuts the tape to Commission the Oyigbo Road Network in Rivers State. With him are Chiedu Ebie, chairman, NDDC board, (right); Samuel Ogbuku, NDDC CEO (left), Asuquo Ekpeyong, chairman Senate committee on NDDC, (second left); Jafaru Leko, deputy chairman, House of Reps committee on NDDC, (second right)
… Flags off road linking Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom, commissions roads in Oyigbo LGA
A minister of the federal republic has observed that frequent commissioning of roads in the oil region is evidence that the reinvigorated Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)a is up and doing.
The Commission was bedeviled by scandals of massive corruption, diversion of funds, and frequent appointment of top management, leading to a forensic audit that oozed with over N6trillion scandal in 20 years.
The rejigging of the NDDC with a stable management headed by Samuel Ogbuku and a board chaired by Chiedu Ebie, seems to restore confidence in the oil region, though kicks from groups pushing to produce new CEO and chairman have reared their heads up once in a while.
Now, Abubakar Momoh, Minister of Regional Development, has said frequent and successful commissioning of roads in the oil region has marked out the NDDC as a busy agency.
This is as he inaugurated the 7.3-kilometre Oyigbo road network which traverses Obunku, Umuosi, Obeakpu, Mgboji, and Ndoki communities in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He also launched the reconstruction of the Mgboji-Umuagbu Akwete Road, linking Rivers, Abia, and Akwa Ibom states.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Momoh said the road projects were testimonies to the fact that NDDC was living up to its mandate to facilitate the rapid development of the Niger Delta region.
Read also: Linking Niger Delta takes a boost as minister commissions Abraka-Oben Road rebuilt by NDDC
He noted that the NDDC last weekend commissioned the reconstructed Abraka-Oben Road in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State and flagged off the Abraka-Agbor Road reconstruction.
The minister commended the NDDC board and management for responding appropriately to the directives of President Bola Tinubu’s charge to deliver impactful projects in the Niger Delta region.
He declared: “Those who disagreed with me for defending the present board of NDDC now know better. The Commission must be allowed to work for Niger Deltans without being distracted by unwarranted calls for the board’s dissolution. The Ministry of Regional Development is against it because NDDC is doing well, which is in line with the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
He said: “I thank the members of the National Assembly who have enabled the NDDC to operate efficiently. I urge them to continue to give the NDDC budgets the required attention to enable the Commission to fulfil its mandate.”
In his remarks, Ebie, chairman of the NDDC board, said that the completion of the road network was a reflection of the President Tinubu administration’s desire to transform the Niger Delta region.
The chairman observed that the NDDC leadership had received a new governance structure prepared by KPMG to ensure accountability and effective performance.
On his own, Ogbuku, the NDDC managing director, said most of the projects embarked upon by the Commission were based on needs assessment.
He stated: The Oyigbo road network links several communities and will help to connect facilities such as the Independent Power company and the Nigeria Gas Company. This will go a long way in supporting the international oil corporations (IOCs) who are our partners and contributors to the funding of projects.”
He remarked that the Oyigbo Road project was awarded in 2024 and that NDDC would ensure that any project it embarked on was completed in line with President Tinubu’s directive to complete all ongoing projects.
He further stated that the ongoing 1.2-kilometer Kaa-Ataba project would be completed before the end of 2025. The Okrika-Borokiri Bridge and the Bonny Ring Road project would also commence, among other abandoned legacy projects.
Ogbuku stated, “We remain dedicated to the mandate given to the NDDC by President Tinubu to transform the narrative in Nigeria’s oil-producing region.”
In his project brief, the NDDC Executive Director Projects, Victor Antai, noted that the road network had reduced travel time, facilitated the evacuation of farm produce from the area, and helped curb crime.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Asuquo Ekpeyong, promised that given the achievements recorded by the present board of the Commission, the National Assembly was prepared to offer any support needed for it to succeed.
He added: “I urge the NDDC to persist in implementing impactful projects that will further enhance economic activities and positively impact the lives of Niger Deltans.”
Speaking earlier, according to Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, the Eze and paramount ruler of Umuosi, Oscar Deya, commended the NDDC for completing the road and called for more efforts to complete the Mgboji-Umuagbu Akwete Road.
He commended the NDDC, saying the Obunku-Ndoki Road was hitherto impassable.
English (US) ·