The authorities at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have declared that the Commission has delivered impact in its first 25 years despite some setbacks and hitches associated with development in a third world environment.
According to a report submitted by Ifeatu Agbu, a development communication expert attached to the communications department of the Commission, the past 25 years has been a remarkable journey, marked by significant milestones and daunting challenges.
For the past week, he submitted, the NDDC has been celebrating its achievements, beginning with a thanksgiving service in Akure, Ondo State, on July 6, 2025, drawing stakeholders and Niger Deltans to express gratitude to God for the Commission’s journey so far.
Taking off on the wings of the Oil Minerals Development Commission (OMPADEC) in 2000, he stated, the NDDC has grown into a symbol of federal presence in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
The celebration moved from spiritual reflection and thanksgiving to strategic communication, with a World Press Conference held in Asaba, Delta State, on Monday, the 7th of July. There, members of the Fourth Estate across all media sectors gathered in what was perhaps the most extensive media engagement of its kind.
There, Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to its motto of ‘Making a Difference.’
Ogbuku stated, “The President gave us a matching order during our inauguration to positively turn things around in the Niger Delta region.” That presidential directive, he noted, continues to guide the board and management as they pursue legacy projects across the region.
From electricity restoration in Ondo to road linkages in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom, the NDDC’s impact was showcased in clear, tangible terms. “We commissioned the 45-km double-circuit 33KV feeder line from Omotosho Power Station to Okitipupa in Ondo State,” Ogbuku recalled, bringing electricity back to 25 local governments after 15 years in darkness.
This was just one of several landmark interventions highlighted during the press briefing, underscoring the Commission’s renewed vigour under the current leadership.
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The MD/CEO was candid and spoke about the setbacks caused by years of instability in leadership. “Frequent changes in management and boards have slowed our progress, but today, we are targeting legacy projects. Our mandate is to complete those critical projects.”
He emphasised that the Commission had transitioned from a transactional mindset to one of transformation, including the digitisation of procurement processes to ensure transparency and accountability.
Other top executives echoed similar sentiments. Chiedu Ebie, the board chairman, stressed the importance of collaboration, particularly with the media, whom he described as “critical stakeholders” in advancing development. Boma Iyaye, the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, noted that the celebrations would run until Saturday, July 12, culminating in a gala night and plenary session in Port Harcourt.
Perhaps the most significant message from the silver jubilee celebration is the renewed hope that the Niger Delta can finally experience holistic and sustainable development.
According to Ogbuku, “We have restructured the administrative architecture of the Commission to its 13 statutory Directorates, introduced robust Corporate Governance protocols thus formalizing a value-driven institutional culture anchored on ethics and performance.”
As the weeklong celebrations continue across different states in the region, the NDDC appears determined not just to celebrate its past but to chart a bold course for the future.
The Ifeatu Agbu report said the people of the Niger Delta are watching, hopeful that the next 25 years would be defined not by promises, but by lasting progress that transforms lives and communities, truly making a difference.
The celebration also featured a movie premiere titled “Making a Difference”, which traced the Commission’s journey and told stories of transformation in communities once plagued by underdevelopment.
The NDDC leadership has again proved to Nigerians, particularly the people of the oil-bearing Niger Delta region, that history does matter. They have also shown clearly that extraordinary personalities can upturn calculations and permutations, as evidenced by torrents of accolades.
Beginning with Ondo state, one of the NDDC mandate states, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Ondo Governor, hailed the management of the NDDC for the peace and development currently prevailing in the Niger Delta region.
Aiyedatiwa, who spoke at the Thanksgiving service of the NDDC held at St Thomas’s Anglican Church, Akure, the Ondo state capital, stressed that the commission has undoubtedly lived up to its established mandate, commending them for exemplary leadership and commitment.
The Governor hailed the commission’s commitment and dedication to project conception, implementation, and completion, noting that the NDDC has established a culture of delivery and the region would no longer witness abandonment of projects as was the case in the past.
The governor stated: “I urge the NDDC to continue to improve on its activities, ensuring that projects are tailored to the needs of the communities we serve. Let us work together to unlock the potential of our region, promote economic growth and enhance the lives of our people. We are partners in progress, unity and development.”
From Ondo state to Asaba, the Delta state capital, Agbu said it was the same rain of praises. Epiphany Azinge, the monarch and Asagba of Asaba, on his part, was full of praises for the NDDC for its achievements in the past 25 years.
The Obi spoke when Ebie led a delegation of the Commission’s leadership to pay him a courtesy visit. The royal father commended the NDDC for its intervention in several sectors across the Niger Delta region, especially the foreign postgraduate scholarship programme, which he said had helped many youths from the Niger Delta upgrade their knowledge.
He also acknowledged the contributions of the NDDC chairman, whom he said had served the Delta State Government in different capacities.
The monarch thanked the NDDC for selecting Asaba as the venue for some of the activities marking its 25th anniversary, such as a press conference and the movie premiere.
Earlier, the board chairman congratulated Asagba on his ascension to the throne of his forefathers. Ebie expressed optimism that the Asagba’s reign would bring good tidings to Asaba, which serves as both a kingdom and the capital of Delta State.
He stated that the NDDC had come of age and was now a big brother to the new development agencies in Nigeria’s geo-political zones. Ebie disclosed that as part of the silver jubilee celebration, the Commission was going around the nine states of the Niger Delta.
The NDDC CEO pledged that the NDDC’s commitment to adhering strictly to the President’s directive to the Commission to complete all ongoing projects in the region, including roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities. He disclosed that the Commission was engaging all stakeholders to ensure harmony and cooperation in the task of developing the hitherto neglected Niger Delta region.
He noted that, “It is not only by our efforts; it is the collaborative efforts from all the stakeholders who believe the time has come when there should be stability in the NDDC and that stability is a challenge to us to ensure that we deliver development to the people of the Niger Delta region.”
