Tinubu has done more for NDDC than any president — Ogbuku

….Minister warns against saboteurs as NDDC inaugurates Delta State office in Warri

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Friday inaugurated its new Delta State office complex in Edjeba, Warri, with top government officials reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to repositioning the Commission and fast-tracking development across the Niger Delta region.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, warned that the Commission was not created for a select few, but for the collective benefit of all communities in the region.

“NDDC is not for a clique of people; it’s for everyone,” Momoh said. “Communities in Delta should beware of those who want to cause problems and create unrest. The NDDC is fully committed to completing all abandoned projects as directed by President Bola Tinubu.”

The Minister charged staff of the new Warri office to justify the government’s investment by maintaining a culture of productivity and discipline.

“This building offers a beautiful working ambience. Staff should own it, use it properly, and not vandalise it,” he added.

Also speaking, Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, noted that the board had established a clear policy framework to guide the Commission’s management and operations.

 “As a board, we provide policy direction for the management team to implement,” Ebie explained. “We’ve worked with different bodies to prepare government documents that will serve as a guide for our day-to-day activities, and the formal launch of that document will be done soon.”

Ebie emphasised collaboration with the Delta State Government to align the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda with the State’s MORE Agenda for inclusive development.

“We look forward to partnership with you so that the Renewed Hope and MORE Agendas can bring the dividends of democracy to our people,” he told Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

Highlighting infrastructure priorities, Ebie revealed that preliminary discussions had commenced between NDDC, the Delta State Government, and Chevron Nigeria Limited on the proposed Escravos–Warri Road project, which he described as vital to riverine communities in the state.

“We’ve already held preliminary meetings with Chevron and are hopeful that the partnership will materialise soon,” he said.

In his remarks, Managing Director/CEO of NDDC, Chief Samuel Ogbuku, commended President Tinubu for being the most supportive leader the Commission has ever had.

“President Tinubu has funded the NDDC more than any President since its creation,” Ogbuku declared. “He mandated us to complete every abandoned project, and this building — which had been under construction for 13 years — is now completed. That is the true reflection of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Ogbuku noted that under his administration, the NDDC had expanded from two to four state offices, marking a shift from “transactional” to “transformational” governance.

“We’re moving from a transactional way of doing things to real transformation,” he said. “We’re also partnering with the Nigeria LNG in a ₦650 billion development initiative. Abandoned projects were not our fault — they resulted from years of political instability in the NDDC board.”

He thanked Governor Oborevwori, who officially inaugurated the edifice, for his cooperation and expressed optimism that increased synergy between the Commission and state governments would accelerate development across the region.

“NDDC is open to partnership, especially with state governments, to deliver projects swiftly,” he added.

The inauguration of the Warri office marks another milestone in the Commission’s efforts to decentralise operations, improve efficiency, and strengthen service delivery to Niger Delta communities.