Category: Africa

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to ongoing reforms and digitisation to enhance service delivery across the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku made this known during a working visit to the NDDC Bayelsa State Office in Yenagoa, where he engaged members of staff and commended their dedication and professionalism.

The Managing Director expressed delight at the warm reception accorded him and praised the workforce for their resilience and commitment to the renewed vision of repositioning the Commission for greater efficiency and impact.

He noted that staff commitment remains central to the Commission’s drive to deliver sustainable development projects and improve the lives of people in the Niger Delta.

According to him, the interaction with staff provided an opportunity to strengthen internal engagement and discuss key developments within the Commission.

Ogbuku briefed the workers on the ongoing policy reforms and digitisation initiatives being implemented by the NDDC, stressing that the measures were critical to modernising the institution and improving operational standards.

He explained that the reforms were designed to streamline workflow processes, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and eliminate inefficiencies that had hindered optimal service delivery in the past.

The NDDC boss further stated that the digitisation programme would promote transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency, while creating a more responsive system capable of meeting the region’s developmental needs.

He urged members of staff to embrace the reforms and remain committed to the Commission’s transformation agenda, noting that their cooperation and professionalism were essential to achieving the desired results.

Ogbuku reiterated the Commission’s resolve to build a stronger and more effective institution that would continue to deliver on its mandate and restore public confidence in the NDDC.

The visit formed part of his broader working tour and stakeholder engagement aimed at advancing the Commission’s renewed vision for sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

The Director of the Bayelsa State office, Engr. Godknows Alamieyeseigha, on behalf of the staff, thanked the Managing Director for giving them the opportunity to interact meaningfully.

He assured the Managing Director that they would not relent in their efforts to provide quality service that would continue to benefit the region.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has restated its commitment to transparency and fairness in selecting beneficiaries for its Foreign Postgraduate Scholarship Programme meant for Niger Delta indigenes.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who stated this during an assessment visit to the venue of the Postgraduate Scholarship interviews in Port Harcourt, assured that the process was devoid of bias, prejudice and compromise.

Ogbuku, who was represented by the NDDC Director of Education, Health and Social Services, Dr Patience Ezugu, thanked the interview panel for doing a good job, noting that there were no complaints from candidates and that the exercise was carried out seamlessly.

He explained that the process of selecting the scholarship recipients was transparent, noting: “The students who benefited from the scholarship scheme in the previous years had distinctions in their various fields of study, and we have not heard of criminal or any negative reports about them.”

The NDDC Director of Education, Dr Awele Chukwudifu, said that successful candidates would be encouraged to return home and use what they had learnt to help improve the region. She expressed appreciation for the Commission’s passion for the capacity development of Niger Deltans.

She noted: “As soon as the computer-based exams are concluded, the scores pop up, which ensures every candidate sees their scores immediately, which shows transparency and integrity.”

The Chairman of the interview panel, a lecturer from the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, Bayelsa State, Prof. Beleudanyo Fente, lauded the NDDC for providing an educational platform to improve the lives of the region’s indigenes.

Fente said that he and his team ensured the workflow was efficient to conduct a free and fair interview and select the best candidates for the scholarship. He stated that only the best would get the scholarship, as there was no room for compromise.

He thanked the NDDC for supporting higher education in the region and urged it to do more, promising that the interview panel would ensure the process was transparent and that the most suitable and qualified candidates were selected.

The consultant for the scholarship programme, Chief Godson Ideozu, said the process was dependable, as there had been no issues since the programme’s commencement. He observed that 12,277 candidates applied for the scholarship, of whom 5,986 scaled through the CBT, and 2,492 were selected for the oral interview.

Ideozu further stated that those who succeed in the oral interview would be invited for a departure briefing in due course.

One of the candidates, Mrs Akindoyeni Oluwabukunmi, said the process was transparent and satisfactory, noting that the scholarship would enable her to enhance her knowledge to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta region. She thanked the NDDC for providing an avenue for the less privileged to further their academic pursuits.

Seledi Thompson-Wakama
Director, Corporate Affairs
May 22, 2026.

The Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has assured that his government, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and Chevron Nigeria Limited will insist on quality execution for the 70.75 km Omadino-Okerenkoko-Escravos Road and bridges in the Warri North Local Government Area.

The Governor stated this when members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on NDDC, led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba.

Members of the National Assembly, accompanied by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku and the Director of the Commission’s Delta State Office, Engr. Joseph Onoriode, were kicking off a two-day inspection of NDDC Projects in Delta and Cross River States.

Governor Oborevwori expressed satisfaction with the ongoing discussions between the state Government, NDDC, and Chevron on the Omadino-Okerenkoko-Escravos Road, which is expected to connect Warri to key oil-producing coastal communities, enhancing economic activities, security, and infrastructure development across the region.

He stated that his government was working with NDDC to fast-track the project’s delivery, restating his administration’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and cost-effective service delivery in all infrastructural projects across the state.

Speaking earlier, Senator Ekpenyong, commended the Delta State Governor’s infrastructural drive and emphasised the Senate’s support for the NDDC’s focus on Renewed Hope projects that directly impact communities.

He said that the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on NDDC, were on a verification tour of projects executed by the Commission to ensure accountability and value for money.

The Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC noted that “the 10th Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, remains fully committed to supporting the NDDC in completing these projects to the highest standards.”

He said: “Our visit is not only to inspect but to ensure that NDDC projects are completed on schedule for the benefit of our people. In this regard, the committee pledges its support in working with the state government and the NDDC in addressing the challenges of developing the Niger Delta region.”

The attention of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has been drawn to the fraudulent activities of scammers using the Commission’s Youth Internship Scheme as bait to defraud unsuspecting people.

In a message circulating on various social media platforms, the fraudsters are requesting that “all Nigerian youths” submit their account details to receive a N50,000 monthly stipend from the Commission as beneficiaries of its Youth Internship Scheme.

The criminals behind this deception are luring youths into falling for their phantom scheme, hiding behind the cover of NDDC’s various youth empowerment schemes.

Please note that the NDDC has painstakingly documented beneficiaries, drawn from the Commission’s official database. Many Niger Delta youths registered for the scheme and benefited from the programme.

We advise members of the public, especially our youths who are seeking genuine means of livelihood, to beware of the antics of scammers and seek information only from the NDDC official channels.

It is indeed disturbing that some mischievous individuals are trying to take advantage of our youths who are genuinely eager to be gainfully engaged in legitimate activities.

All inquiries about our Youth Internship Scheme and other empowerment programmes should be channelled through our official information platforms. We also encourage beneficiaries of our programmes to verify facts on the NDDC’s official website ([www.nddc.gov.ng]) and social media handles.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has commenced a Performance Management System Training to strengthen the capacity of its key personnel, equip them with essential skills, and provide a structured roadmap for cascading the Performance Management System, PMS, in the Commission.

Speaking during a three-day Performance Management System training for Directors and Change Champions in Port Harcourt, the NDDC Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Dr Patterson Ogon, stated that the training marks the start of a series of sessions aimed at enhancing overall efficiency and accountability in the Commission.

He explained: “This training serves as a foundational step in the transformative journey initiated by the federal government to introduce PMS across all ministries, departments, and agencies. It is essential for fostering accountability, transparency, and result-oriented governance in the public sector.”

Ogon highlighted the crucial role of PMS in delivering improved service outcomes, noting that the previously used Annual Performance Evaluation Report (APER) system had become ineffective.

“APER has been scrapped in the public service, as directed by the Federal Executive Council, and we must embrace PMS to establish a merit-based system that delivers value,” he reiterated.

The Director further noted the introduction of key performance indicators (KPIs), ministerial scorecards, and clear performance targets, all designed to drive results with precision and focus.

Earlier, the Director II Admin and Human Resources, Mr. James Fole, said the workshop underscores the Commission’s commitment to addressing inefficiency and delivering quality service in line with the national development plan.

Fole added that the training aims to ensure all personnel have a thorough understanding of PMS, which will ultimately elevate service delivery standards across the board.

“The training is the first of a series of sessions that will continue over the coming weeks, including sectoral retreats and deeper dives into performance management practices,” he said.

He added that the training would equip participants with the knowledge to effectively monitor, measure, and reward performance, ensuring alignment between individual and institutional goals and national development priorities.

Presenting a paper titled “Overview of PMS and Key Terminologies,” one of the resource persons, Mr Emmanuel Ochoche Peters, said the Performance Management System will enable the Commission to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions.

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has received multiple international awards for its contributions to leadership, transformation, governance, and accountability in the development of the Niger Delta region.

The Institute of Public Sector Management presented the International Public Service Excellence Award at the Parliament House in Westminster, London, to top NDDC officials, led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku. Other awardees from the Commission were the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; and the Director, Finance and Accounts, Mrs Kunemofa Asu.

While the NDDC Managing Director, represented by his Chief of Staff, Rev. Obegha Oworibo, was honoured for his “strategic and transformational leadership,” the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, represented by the NDDC Director of Administration and Human Resources, Sir Kelechi Nwelue, was recognised for his “distinguished contributions to integrity and administrative excellence in public service.”

The Institute of Public Sector Management further stated that the NDDC Director of Finance and Accounts was honoured for her “distinguished contributions to regional development, integrity and accountability.”

Responding after receiving the award, the NDDC boss observed that the recognitions from international organisations mean people within and outside Nigeria see the changes the NDDC has brought to the region.

Ogbuku thanked the institute for recognising the immense contributions of the NDDC to the development of the Niger Delta region.

He said the recognition would spur the Commission’s Board and Management to do more, assuring that the intervention agency would redouble its efforts to ensure the completion of legacy projects that would foster regional development, without forgetting human capital development.

Speaking at the occasion, the President of the Institute of Public Sector Management, UK, Dr Martina Macpherson, said the leadership of the Commission has shown dedication to addressing complex development challenges while striving to improve infrastructure and social communities, and to expand opportunities across the Niger Delta region.

She stated: “Their efforts reflect an important principle that regional development is not only about projects or programmes, but it’s also about restoring hope, strengthening institutions and building pathways for sustainable prosperity.”

“Through their dedication to public service, they have demonstrated that leadership grounded in integrity and service can produce meaningful results.”

“Their contributions to regional development, institutional reform and public service leadership stand as examples worthy of recognition and emulation.”

Macpherson noted that “the Institute of Public Sector Management plays an important role in advancing public sector leadership by promoting professional development, research, education, and global collaboration.”

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has commenced an emergency upgrade of the electricity supply to its headquarters complex by formally handing over the project to Income Electrix, an integrated power company.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the NDDC headquarters, the Director of Community and Rural Development, CRD, Engr. Theophilus Alagoa, said that the project was an emergency intervention designed to connect the NDDC headquarters to the Port Harcourt Electric Distribution Company, PHED, bilateral feeder.

Alagoa, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Community and Rural Development, Mr Olorunlara Olumide, explained that the objective of the project was to link the Commission’s headquarters complex to a more reliable power source to reduce high diesel consumption and ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply.

He stated: “We are here in respect of an emergency work awarded to Income Electrix to connect the NDDC head office to PHED. This meeting also serves as the formal introduction and handover of the contractor to handle the project.”

He urged the contractor to meet the Commission’s expectations and promptly communicate any challenges that might arise during execution.

According to him, “the scope of work for the project includes the construction of a 33KV double circuit line tapping from Hypercity Roundabout; installation of a 1.5MVA 33/0.415 distribution substation; upgrading of the existing 500KVA 11/0.415KV transformer at the annex to 500KVA 33/0.415KV, as well as the upgrade of the 33KV feeder switchgear at the supply end.”

In his remarks, the NDDC Deputy Director of Administration and Human Resources, Engr. Erefa Alalibo assured that the project monitoring department would ensure the work was executed in line with the required standards and specifications.

Responding, the representative of Income Electrix, Mr Umo Adam, assured the Commission that the project would be delivered in line with the agreed terms and conditions. He affirmed the company’s commitment to quality and timely delivery.

The Director II, Corporate Affairs, Dr Tony Omah, emphasised the importance of proper needs assessment before the Commission embarks on any project, noting that such evaluations ensure that interventions are relevant and impactful. He stressed the need for project beneficiaries to take full ownership to ensure sustainability, while urging the contractor to maintain high standards of execution.