The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has disclosed that the Commission has fully embraced digital technology and institutional reforms to improve transparency, efficiency and service delivery across the Niger Delta, revealing that its procurement and other operational processes are being digitised under a paperless system.
Speaking while receiving a delegation from the National Council on Establishment at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku, represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, said the reforms introduced by the current management had restored public confidence in the intervention agency. A statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said the NDDC had completed over 600 kilometres of roads and several bridges in the last three years, while the 1.2-kilometre Kaa-Ataba Bridge was nearing completion.
The NDDC boss attributed the Commission’s achievements to strong collaboration with governors of the Niger Delta states and partnerships with Shell, Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) and Chevron, which have supported major development projects. He also announced the expansion of the Commission’s postgraduate scholarship programme to include local beneficiaries, creating opportunities for an additional 600 students, while over ₦6 billion has been invested in small and medium-scale enterprises through the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty.
Ogbuku further highlighted improvements in healthcare through the construction and equipping of medical facilities, free medical outreach programmes and youth engagement initiatives that have helped curb crude oil theft. According to him, these efforts contributed to increasing Nigeria’s oil production from about 800,000 barrels per day to approximately 1.4 million barrels daily. He added that the Commission’s “Light Up the Niger Delta” project, which installs solar-powered streetlights in communities, has improved security and boosted economic activities at night.
Commending the initiative, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Dr. Ishiayaku Muhammed, described the Commission’s digitisation drive as being in line with the Federal Government’s directive for Ministries, Departments and Agencies to migrate to paperless operations by December. She also stressed the importance of staff welfare, training and collaboration to strengthen public service delivery.
