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The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has said that the Commission had transformed and digitised its operations to improve service delivery and promote transparency across the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku made this known while receiving a delegation from the National Council on Establishment, including Heads of Service from various state governments, during a courtesy visit to the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
Represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, the NDDC Managing Director said the Commission had adopted a paperless system by digitising its transactions, including procurement processes, in line with global best practices.
According to him, the reforms have enhanced efficiency and strengthened public confidence in the Commission’s operations.
Highlighting achievements in infrastructure development, Ogbuku disclosed that the NDDC had completed more than 600 kilometres of roads and several bridges across the Niger Delta within the last three years. He added that the 1.2-kilometre Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Rivers State, one of the longest bridges in Nigeria, was nearing completion and would soon be inaugurated.
The NDDC boss also underscored the Commission’s collaboration with state governments and development partners, noting that strategic partnerships with organisations such as Shell, the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), and Chevron had facilitated the execution of landmark projects that have positively impacted communities in the region.
In the area of human capital development, Ogbuku said the Commission had revitalised its Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme and expanded it to include local postgraduate scholarships, creating opportunities for an additional 600 beneficiaries from the Niger Delta.
He further revealed that more than N6 billion had been injected into small and medium-scale enterprises through the establishment of the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA), aimed at stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty in the region.
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On healthcare, the Managing Director said the Commission had recorded significant achievements through the construction and equipping of medical centres, as well as the implementation of free medical outreach programmes designed to address the healthcare needs of residents.
Ogbuku also highlighted improvements in oil production, stating that output in the Niger Delta had increased from about 800,000 barrels per day when the current management assumed office to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day.
He attributed the increase to sustained collaboration with security agencies and youth engagement programmes that helped curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The NDDC chief executive further cited the success of the Commission’s “Light Up the Niger Delta” initiative, which has provided solar-powered street lights in several communities, enhancing security and reducing criminal activities.
Earlier, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, commended the NDDC for its digitisation drive, describing it as consistent with the Federal Government’s directive requiring Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to transition to paperless operations by December.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Dr. Ishiayaku Muhammed, Walson-Jack stressed the need for closer collaboration between the Federal Civil Service and the NDDC, noting that government policies directly affect the operations of the interventionist agency.
She also emphasised the importance of staff welfare, training and capacity building as critical factors for improving productivity and strengthening the public service.
The Head of Service praised the NDDC for the reforms and development initiatives it has undertaken in recent years, noting that the measures were contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta region.
