NDDC to launch new governance policy, standard operating procedures

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to launch a new governance policy and standard operating procedures (SOPs) as part of a broader institutional reform agenda.

Samuel Ogbuku, managing director of the NDDC, made the announcement on Monday during the commission’s 25th anniversary celebration held in Asaba, Delta state.

He said the reform initiative is aimed at institutionalising corporate governance and preventing future abuses within the commission.

“We believe that if there is no corporate governance policy guiding the NDDC, whatever we do today could be abused by those who come after us,” Ogbuku said.

“We decided to institutionalise most of our policies by engaging KPMG to design a governance advisory policy. That document is ready, and the SOPs are also ready.”

Ogbuku said a formal launch of the governance handbook will be held soon, with stakeholders invited to attend. According to him, the handbook will clarify institutional boundaries and improve internal accountability.

Ogbuku also disclosed that the commission had successfully cleared a four-year backlog of staff salaries within a single year, a move he said re-energised the workforce.

“In one year, we paid off all outstanding salary arrears owed to staff of the NDDC. Today, we are up to date with all our payments and commitments. That gave the staff renewed motivation and commitment to work,” he said.

He said the renewed commitment within the commission enabled it to complete several long-abandoned infrastructure projects across the Niger Delta.

Ogbuku said the projects include the Okitipupa electricity project in Ondo state, which restored power to the entire Ondo south after 15 years in darkness, as well as a substation in Edo state and the Ibuno bridge linking Ibuno and Eastern Obolo LGA in Akwa Ibom state.

Other completed projects include the 27.1-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe road in Bayelsa state, constructed in partnership with the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The road connects 14 communities and includes over 50 culverts and seven bridges.

“We must commend SPDC for trusting the NDDC and following through to the end of that project,” Ogbuku said.

He added that the commission was now balancing the completion of old projects with the initiation of new ones that have measurable impact.

Recent examples include the completion of a 10-kilometre stretch of the Abraka–Benin road, a 7.5-kilometre road in Nwangele, Imo state, another 7.5-kilometre road in Obigbo, Rivers state, and a new training centre in Bayelsa state.

Looking ahead, Ogbuku said agriculture will be a major focus of the NDDC’s development strategy in line with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda on food security.

He announced plans to convene an agriculture summit aimed at creating a regional master plan to support food production and rural livelihoods in the Niger Delta.

“We want to guarantee food security in the Niger Delta. We will develop a unified agricultural roadmap and follow through with a summit where we collectively agree on a master plan,” he said.