The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, on Tuesday reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to partnering with state governments across the Niger Delta region to drive development initiatives that directly benefit local communities.
Ogbuku made this statement in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during the commissioning of the commission’s newly completed state office building. The edifice was officially named the Chief Melford Okilo Building in honor of the late political leader, who Ogbuku described as one of the founding advocates behind the creation of the NDDC.
He emphasized that the NDDC is not a governing body but rather an interventionist agency tasked with addressing infrastructural and developmental gaps in the oil-rich region. According to him, cooperation with state governments remains essential to ensuring that the commission’s efforts are both strategic and impactful.
“For us, we are willing to partner with state governments in any area that will benefit the people of the Niger Delta,” Ogbuku said. “I have always said that NDDC is not a government but an interventionist agency. We will always achieve more if we partner with the state governments.”
Ogbuku expressed gratitude to the Bayelsa State government and its governor, Douye Diri, for their consistent support and collaboration with the commission. He noted that the newly inaugurated building not only signifies infrastructural growth but also reflects the institutionalization of the NDDC’s presence in Bayelsa State.
Addressing Governor Diri directly, Ogbuku said, “Your Excellency, I want to thank you… You have given us every support we need as NDDC. You have attended my programmes very well. This shows that in Bayelsa State, we are united for development.”
Governor Diri, in his remarks, welcomed the commissioning of the NDDC office building and underscored the importance of unity among the people of Bayelsa. He highlighted the homogeneity of the Ijaw ethnic group in the state and called for unity, especially in the face of political differences.
“There is no other ethnic group in Bayelsa State. We may have different clans, but we are all one and the same people,” Diri stated. “Politics should not divide us… it should be an avenue to attract development to Bayelsa State.”
Governor Diri also commented on the recently completed Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Otiokpoti, lauding it as a commendable intervention by the NDDC. He encouraged the agency to replicate such facilities in other local government areas of the state, particularly due to the annual displacement caused by flooding.
He described the IDP camp project as one of significant relevance and urged that similar projects be executed across the region to alleviate the impact of natural disasters.
“Generally, all of us from the Niger Delta have similar issues of flooding, erosion, and pollution, and we must work hand in glove to ensure that our region is free of most of these challenges,” the governor said.
Diri emphasized the importance of unity between local, state, and federal authorities, as well as with international partners, to secure the necessary resources for regional development. He maintained that his administration is committed to fostering such partnerships.
He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving the second phase of the Nembe-Brass Road, a significant infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity in Bayelsa.
Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, was also present at the event. He applauded Governor Diri for his consistent engagement with the NDDC and reiterated that the commission’s role is to intervene where government efforts fall short, not to compete with any tier of governance.
“Today, NDDC is in their permanent building, and what that means is productivity,” Momoh said. He added that collaboration with state governments remains crucial to the commission’s success.
Also speaking at the event, Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, praised the NDDC for its accountable use of resources and its commitment to transparency.
“I have come to identify with good governance in NDDC. I have come to identify with accountability and transparency,” Olukoyede stated. He credited the judicious use of recovered funds for making the new NDDC projects, including the office complex, a reality.
He expressed confidence in Ogbuku’s leadership, citing the visible transformation the NDDC has undergone over the past two years under his watch.
Kombowei Benson, another notable figure at the event, also commended Ogbuku’s leadership, noting the significant progress made in delivering development to remote creek communities. He highlighted the agency’s efforts in expanding access to electricity and other critical infrastructure, describing Ogbuku as a beacon of progress for the region.
The ceremony concluded with renewed calls for sustained unity and collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the long-term development and stability of the Niger Delta.
