NDDC Seeks Stronger Partnerships To Fast-Track Niger Delta Development

The Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC has called for stronger collaboration and sustainable partnerships among stakeholders to drive human capital and infrastructural development in the Niger Delta.

The call was made by the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku during a pre-conference briefing ahead of the 2026 Partnership for Sustainable Development Conference scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt.

Ogbuku said the conference will provide an opportunity for the Commission to give account of its stewardship to the people of the Niger Delta.

He urged stakeholders to participate actively, share ideas and constructively assess the activities of the Commission for collective progress.

According to him, the summit is designed as a platform for accountability, transparency and probity, noting that NDDC has recorded significant progress over the years.

He said one of the challenges that affected the Commission in the past was the absence of a comprehensive governance framework, adding that the new framework will provide clear guidelines for management and staff and also regulate stakeholder expectations.

He explained that the governance framework will serve as an institutional safeguard to protect the mandate of the Commission from practices that could undermine the development of the Niger Delta region.

Once adopted, he said the document will become a stakeholders instrument that can be used to hold the Managing Director, Governing Board and management accountable.

Speaking on digital transformation, Ogbuku disclosed that NDDC is moving towards full automation and that directors of the Commission are currently undergoing training as part of the digitisation process.

He noted that automation will help reduce corruption and human interference, eliminate delays and make it easy to track and retrieve official documents.

Ogbuku appealed for continued support and engagement from stakeholders, saying the progress made so far was partly due to their backing.

With your support, the NDDC is respected today. We want to solicit more support. Where we make mistakes, call us; we shall listen to you. That is why we are here today, to submit ourselves to you and hear from you, he said.

He also attributed the improved performance of the Commission to the support of President Bola Tinubu and called on stakeholders to use the summit to identify social challenges in the Niger Delta and discuss roles NDDC and other partners can play.

In his remarks, the Director of Community and Rural Development, Engr Theophilus Alagoa said the summit will create room for meaningful dialogue on Niger Delta development.

He said it will help develop a policy framework that promotes synergy and encourages adoption of a common development plan for the region.

He added that NDDC has moved from its mantra of determined to make a difference to actually making a difference.

Also speaking, Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum PANDEF, Ambassador Godknows Igali urged stakeholders to unite for sustainable development of the region.

Igali called on traditional institutions, host communities, youth groups, government agencies including the South-South Development Commission and Niger Delta Basin Development Authority and civil society organisations to collaborate with NDDC.

The statement was issued by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director Corporate Affairs, NDDC on September 23, 2026.