There seems to be something different in the present three-day tour of Abubakar Momoh, Minister of Regional Development. His businesslike mien and straight to the point this time around seemed to keep everybody on alert.
The Minister arrived Port Harcourt on August 7, 2025, to begin the three-day inspection tour. The topnotch protocol arranged by both the Ministry team and the Niger Delta Development Commission seemed to add to the tone of difference.
The most evident sign was that he often stated that he was sent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This exposition seemed to put everybody on check because one would not know when it is the president that is speaking or minister.
For instance, when he gave December as deadline to deliver the Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Khana and Andoni, it sounded like a presidential ultimatum.
As the tour waned, it began to emerge that the tour could be the tonic needed to increase execution pace of the projects especially those regarded as ‘legacy projects’ often describing projects that had lasted for too long.
His stops at Ataba Bridge, at the Cardiovascular Centre, the visit to the Sole Administrator, and the meeting with the workers, all revealed one encouragement tonic or the other, such that most observers began seeing signs of fresh gusto of presidential support to the NDDC management and board.
Perhaps the biggest evidence of a path on the back to the Samuel Ogbuku-led management could be what the Minister told the workers. He urged the management and staff of the Commission to consolidate on the successes recorded by the Commission in the past two years. It was interpreted to mean that the Presidency was pleased by what has happened in the past two years (of both Tinubu for Nigeria and Ogbuku for NDDC).
Speaking during an interactive meeting between the ministry, executive management and staff of the Commission at the NDDC Event Centre in Port Harcourt, Momoh observed that the “success of NDDC is the success of the Ministry of Regional Development.”
He stated: “In the past two years, significant developments have taken place in the Niger Delta region, and this is because of the hard work of the management and staff of the NDDC. We have come to give you hope and encouragement to do more.”
Momoh noted that his working visit along with the Permanent Secretary and Directors of the Ministry was to inspect the ongoing construction of the Kaa-Ataba Bridge linking the Khana Local Government Area to the Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He said that the inspection also took him to the construction work at the 3.65-kilometre Borokiri-Okrika Road and three bridges at the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State and the Niger Delta Regional Hospital, with cardiovascular and orthopaedic sections, in Port Harcourt.
The Minister commended the NDDC for a successful celebration of its 25th anniversary and urged the staff to continue to work with the management to ensure improvement in project and service delivery.
The Minister emphasised the importance of cooperation and said, “For an organisation to excel, its leadership must show the way, and the people behind them must be ready to cooperate.”
Earlier in his remarks, Ogbuku, the CEO of the NDDC, restated the commitment of the Commission to the presidential mandate to change the narrative in the Niger Delta region.
Ogbuku pledged that the NDDC would adhere strictly to the President’s directive to complete all ongoing regional projects, noting that the performance of the Commission was now a reference point in the country. This seemed to matter most to most members of the audience to hear that the NDDC and the Presidency were on same page in terms of eagerness to complete legacy projects. It was sign of guarantee of funds and stability of the term of office of the management and board.
The Managing Director recalled that in the past, some NDDC staff wished they were transferred to other Federal Government agencies because of poor working conditions. He said that the tide had since changed as many people now want to identify with the Commission.
He noted: “Today, we have a new identity, which is one of the key indicators of success and performance. Today, NDDC is one of the best-performing agencies in the country. The difference is good leadership combined with loyal and dedicated staff.”
In her remarks, Mary Ogbe, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Regional Development, also commended the NDDC staff, describing them as the “engine room of the Commission’s successes.” She urged the staff to continue to give their best for the good of the Niger Delta region.
Speaking on behalf of the Staff, John Achoreturi, chairman of the NDDC staff union, appealed to the Minister to assist the leadership of the Commission in the area of securing adequate funding for development projects in the region.
Bigger signs of support for project execution emerged at the Kaa-Ataba Bridge which actually was the first port of call. The minister showed more of solidarity and support to projects of the Commission.
He said the NDDC would soon complete the 2-kilometre double-lane Kaa-Ataba Road with two bridges linking the Khana Local Government Area to the Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Minister was accompanied by Ogbe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development; Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director; Victor Antai, the Executive Director of Projects, Ifedayo Abegunde, the Executive Director of Corporate Services.
Momoh commended the NDDC team for responding appropriately to the directives of President Bola Tinubu to deliver impactful projects in the Niger Delta region. He said, “I am pleased that the NDDC is doing very well, which is in line with President Tinubu’s directives.”
The Minister observed that the effort to complete the bridge was a reflection of the President Tinubu administration’s desire to transform the Niger Delta region. He assured that the road and bridge project would be completed before the end of this year.
Also speaking, Ogbuku, the NDDC boss, restated the commitment of the Commission to the presidential mandate to change the narrative in Nigeria’s oil-producing region. Ogbuku affirmed that the Commission would do all that was necessary to enable the contractor to complete the project on schedule.
He stated, “We are working with a competent contractor who has assured us that the project will be completed before the end of the year. We have just finished discussing this with the on-site engineers, and they are as determined as we are to deliver the project on schedule.”
Ogbuku pledged that the NDDC would adhere strictly to the President’s directive to complete all ongoing regional projects, including roads, bridges, schools, and healthcare facilities.
According to Ogbuku, “The project is one of the legacy projects which was captured in the 2024 budget of the commission as part of the fund approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to facilitate completion of legacy projects across the region. The president’s approval also includes the Okrika-Borokiri Bridge in Rivers State, among others.”
The NDDC boss noted that concerns were raised about the integrity of the columns because the project was delayed for many years. He said that the problems had been addressed and the project was now moving at a fast pace.
He affirmed, “I can assure you that there’s funding to complete this project, and it will be completed on record time by the end of 2025. We are only praying that the weather will be kind to us.”
Idan-Awaji Erasmus, representative of the paramount ruler of Ataba kingdom in Andoni Local Government Area, said his people were happy to see the Minister coming to inspect the project.
He Noted: “We are delighted because this project is so dear to our hearts. Completing it will be a significant boost for economic and social activities, improving the lives of the Ataba people.
“We, the people of Ataba, are very peaceful and cooperative. We assure the NDDC that we will cooperate with the contractor to ensure the project is completed on schedule.”
The inspection team also visited the ongoing work at the 3.65-kilometre Borokiri-Okrika Road and three bridges at the Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Minister equally inspected the Niger Delta Regional Hospital, which specialises in cardiovascular and orthopaedic care, in Port Harcourt.
Ozuruole Ajie, the project coordinator, explained that the health facility would be an enduring legacy for the Niger Delta region.
A dimension came from Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the sole administrator of Rivers State, who pointed to other areas of development of the oil region.
The retired vice admiral called on development partners to expand their interventions in the Niger Delta by prioritizing innovation hubs, industrial clusters, digital centers, and skills acquisition programmes alongside physical infrastructure. These areas seem to be already covered by most programmes of the NDDC which have since launched ICT hub, skills acquisition schemes, agroprenuership schemes (with IFAD), etc.
The Administrator made the appeal on Friday while receiving the Minister of Regional Development during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Ibas emphasized the need for a holistic approach to development in the Niger Delta, stating that meaningful progress must go beyond roads and bridges to include economic empowerment and human capital development.
“Infrastructure remains a major need, but so is social investment, human capital development, and economic inclusion. A bridge that doesn’t lead to opportunities is a bridge half built,” the administrator declared.
He stressed that the Niger Delta, endowed with vast natural and human resources, must adopt development models that stimulate regional and national economic growth.
“We must focus on innovation hubs, industrial clusters, agro-processing zones, digital infrastructure, skill acquisition centers, and youth enterprise development programs,” Ibas urged.
The administrator praised the NDDC for its longstanding collaboration with Rivers State, citing key projects such as the ongoing Kaa-Taaba Bridge in Ogoni and the Borikiri Ring Road in Okrika. He described these initiatives as “economic arteries” that connect communities and transform lives.
Ibas commended the Minister’s visit as a positive step toward aligning federal and state development goals. He called for deeper collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, the NDDC, the newly established South-South Commission, and the Rivers State Government. He said: “We must remove bottlenecks, identify real needs, and ensure impact is felt where it matters most”.
In his remarks, Momoh explained that his visit was part of a nationwide assessment tour to evaluate ongoing and abandoned NDDC projects, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to complete all such initiatives in the region.
The Minister lauded Ibas for fostering peace and stability in Rivers State, which he noted has attracted investments and revitalized commercial activities.
The meeting reinforced the commitment of both federal and state stakeholders to accelerate sustainable development in the Niger Delta through infrastructure, innovation, and economic empowerment.
Conclusion:
The tour by the Minister and the tone of presidential backing seem to serve as tonic for the NDDC to work harder after the anniversary to deliver more.
